82 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



snout and the angle of the jaw, is a small cirrus on each side, and anterior to this the opening 

 of a mucous duct ; from this extend along the inner sides of the jaw, 10-12 distant cirri or 

 beards, of which the posterior are longest. Teeth in both jaws, fine and card-hke. The 

 tongue smooth. The pharynx is paved with teeth, flattened on their crowns. 



The first dorsal fin triangular, with ten spinous rays ; the first very short ; the second 

 shorter than the third, which is longest ; thence gradually diminishing backwards. The 

 second dorsal continuous with the first, nearly as high, with its first ray short and spinous. 

 Pectorals long and pointed, reaching as far back as the third ray of the posterior dorsal. 

 Ventrals distant, rounded, with one short spinous and five branched rays. Anal fin higher 

 than long ; the first ray short, spinous, and very acute ; the second longer, triangular, and 

 stoutly spinous ; all the remainder branched, the third and fourth longer than the second 

 spinous ray. 



According to Cuvier, the liver is of an ordinary size, sending off two delicate flattened 

 lobes, of which the right one is narrowest. To this lobe is attached the long and cylindrical 

 gall-bladder. The choledochus ascends into the space between the lobes of the liver, and in 

 its course receives a few cystic vessels ; it afterwards becomes free, and empties into the 

 duodenum behind the caecal appendages, of which there are six, half ^s long as the stomach. 

 The air-bladder strongly attached to the vertebree in the upper third of its length, with the 

 same processes noted in the other species. Kidneys large, thick, united. The ureters are 

 of a moderate length, and end behind the rectum, quite close to it, but with no vestige of a 

 urinary bladder. 



Color. Body of a dusky hue, with silvery and bronze intermixed ; after death, the general 

 hue is chocolate-brown, the dusky bands becoming more intensely dark. Summit of the head 

 dark brown, resembling the vestige of a band. Four dusky bands over the body ; one ante- 

 rior to the dorsal, and descending to the pectorals ; the second crossing the posterior portion 

 of the first dorsal, and the last two crossing the second dorsal. Pectoral fin faint yellowish ; 

 the others dark brovsm, somewhat lighter at their bases. 



Length, 9-5. Depth, 3-5. 



Fin rays, D. 10.1.22; P. 20; V. 1.5; A. 2.5; C. 15 



This fish appears in our waters from the south in October and November, and sometimes 

 as early as September. It has been supposed that this species is the young of the preceding ; 

 but I have seen them in September, six inches long, with all the characters of the adult. It 

 has various popular names, such as Grunter, Young Drum, Grunts, and Young Sheeps- 

 head. From Dr. Holbrook's figures, I infer that this species occurs on the coast of Carolina. 

 It does not appear to extend farther north than the sea-coast of New-York. 



