176 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



containing seventeen subequal rays, the membrane passing beyond the tips ; the soft portion 

 is about one-third of the length of the preceding part, higher and rounded, containing ten 

 rays. The pectoral fins wide and rounded ; their length equal to half the height of the body, 

 and containing seventeen rays. The ventral fins beneath the middle of the pectorals, mode- 

 rate, and composed of one spinous and five branched rays. Anal short, commencing under 

 the fifteenth spinous ray of the dorsal, and terminates opposite the seventh or eighth soft ray 

 of the soft portion of that fin, and equalling that fin in height. It contains three spinous and 

 eight branched rays. Caudal fin very short, nearly even, and slightly rounded. 



Color. This is remarkably varied, but the general hue is black ; occasionally deep black, 

 or bluish black with metallic reflections. Very frequently pale bluish, with irregular bands 

 of a deeper hue. Lips, lower jaw and abdomen lighter, sometimes of a pale color, sprinkled 

 with black points, and occasionally of the same general hue with the rest of the body. Liver 

 voluminous ; the left lobe divided into two parts each larger than the right lobe. Rectum dou- 

 ble the size of the preceding intestine, with a thick valve at its origin. Spleen oval, large. 

 Air-bladder very large, enlarged and emarginate before, pointed behmd. Kidneys empty al- 

 most immediately into a large urinary bladder. 



Length, 6-0 - 18-0. 



Fin rays, D. 17. 10 ; P. 17 ; V. 1 .5 ; A. 3.8 ; C. 14 |. VertebrEe, 34. 



The Common Black-fish, or Tautog, in the Mohegan dialect, which is also said to mean 

 black, is a well known and savory fish, affording equal pleasure to the angler and the epicure. 

 Its usual weight in the market is about two pounds. I have heard of one which weighed 

 twenty pounds, but the largest I have seen did not exceed twelve pounds. This fish selects 

 in preference rocky shores, feeding near the ground on small crabs and shells ; he is often, 

 however, taken on sandy bottoms. He is a wary fish, but bites firmlv, and is tenacious of life 

 when taken from the water. It is supposed by the fishermen that he lies torpid in winter, 

 and that at this period an adventitious membrane closes over the vent. He takes the hook 

 freely from April until late in the autumn, when he retires into deeper water. 



The geographical range of the tautog is very limited, scarcely extending beyond the Capes 

 of the Chesapeake and Massachusetts bay. According to Dr. Storer, a very few years only 

 have passed since this species was introduced into Massachusetts bay, and it is now common 

 along a large portion of that coast. In 1836, three smacks were constantly employed in 

 Wellfleet harbor from April to November, in this fishery alone. 



Attempts have been made to introduce this fish farther south, but with very limited success. 

 I am informed by my friend Dr. Holbrook, that General Thomas Pinckney imported from 

 Rhode-Island a smack load of the Tautog, and set them adrift in the harbor of Charleston, 

 South-Carolina, where they are to be found to this day. They are still occasionally caught 

 weighing from one to two pounds, but never in such quantities as to be brought to market. 



