168 DIVISION I. VERTEBRAL ANIMALS.—CLASS IV. PISCES. 
inasmuch as the Blue-fish and Squeteague are now (1869) both found 
abundantly in the same localities ; and I have recently sat at a table where 
both these fishes (caught in the same waters) were comprised in the bill of 
fare. 
Dr. Mitchell’s description of this fish is as follows : — 
“Size commonly from a foot to fifteen inches.” (I have seen one nearly 
two feet long.) “He never goes into fresh streams, or ponds, but, within 
the limits of the salt water, is taken in almost all the places where rock-fishes 
are caught. The Weak-fish is so much the companion of the basse, that I 
once gave him the specific name of Comes. Head and back brown, with fre- 
quently a tinge of greenish. The spaces towards the sides faintly silvery, 
with dusky specks. These gradually disappear on the sides, until, on de- 
scending to the belly, a clear white prevails from the chin to the tail. J/outh 
wide. Jaws toothed, and, in the upper mandible, one, two, or three teeth 
in front, larger and stronger than the rest, and resembling the fangs of ser- 
pents. Throat, in front of the esophagus, armed above and below with 
collections of small teeth. Eight softish rays in the foremost dorsal fin. 
Pectoral, dorsal, and caudal fins light or pale brown, inclining sometimes 
to yellowish. Anal and ventral fins pale yellow. Tuc even. Lower jaw 
longer than the upper. Lateral line arched upwards, and, after its descent, 
runs quite to the extremity of the caudal fin. Tongue yellow, with minute 
black dots around the fore part; concave, with a soft and flexible margin ; 
has a frenum. The swimming-bladder is convertible to a good glue. I 
have eaten as fine blanc-mange from it as from the isinglass of the sturgeon. 
He is a fish of a goodly appearance, and is wholesome and well tasted, 
though rather soft. Is brought to market in great numbers during the 
summer months. He is taken by the line and the seine. He is called 
Weak-fish, as some say, because he does not pull very hard alter he is 
hooked ; or, as others allege, because laboring men, who are fed upon him, 
gre weak, by reason of the deficient nourishment in that kind of food. 
“Certain peculiar noises under water, of a low, rumbling, or drumming 
kind, are ascribed by the fishermen to the Squeteaque. Whether the sounds 
come from these fishes or not, it is certain that, during their season, they 
may be heard coming from the bottom of the water, and in places fre- 
quented by Weak-fish, and not in other places; and when the Weak-fish 
depart, the sounds are no more heard.” 
In this last peculiarity, it shows a relationship to Pogonias, the Drum- 
fish. 
L. Versicolor. — Pagrus argyrops (Cuvier). — Scup, Porgee, Seapaug. 
The length of the Porgee, or Scup, is from eight to twelve inches. The 
general color is a lustrous silvery, varied with reddish-brown and_ blue. 
