94 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



GENUS CHRYSOPHRIS. Cuvier. 



Four to six conical teeth in front of each jaw. The broad oval molar teeth in three rows. 

 Branchial rays six. 



THE ACULEATED GILT-HEAD. 



Chrysophris aculeata. 

 plate lxxi. fig. 229. 



La Daurade aiguillomef C. actdeata. Cuv. et Val. Hist. Poiss. Vol. G, p. 137. 



Characteristics. Large. Body elongated. Without bands. A recumbent spine before the 

 dorsal. Length 12-22 inches. 



Description. Body more elongated than in the other species of this genus. A stout and 

 short recumbent spine before the dorsal. Teeth small, in three series in the upper jaw ; the 

 middle smaller than the internal row. 



Dorsal fin low. Pectorals long. Scales moderate ; those of the preopercle extended over 

 the upper branch. The color appears to have been reddish, with resplendent silvery reflec- 

 tions. Dorsal and anal fins reddish, as well as the suborbital. In liquor, this fish is silvery 

 white, with a reddish tint on the sides, which have about twenty longitudinal golden lines. 

 Head brilliant, with golden reflections. Suborbital, dorsal and anal fins reddish ; the ventrals 

 red. Caudal fin grey. 



Fin rays, D. 12.12; P. 16; V. 1.5; A. 3.12; C. 17. 



The liver very voluminous, divided into two lobes, which are subdivided into smaller ones. 

 Air-bladder very large. The peritoneum reddish, with silvery reflections. Vertebrae twenty- 

 four, of which ten are abdominal. The three first interspinals larger and wider than the 

 others ; the first of these supports the recumbent spine, which has furnished us with a spe- 

 cific name. The medial crest of the cranium is the only prominent one, and is not prolonged 

 beyond the eyes ; the space between them slightly arched. Bones of the shoulder not very 

 stout. We do not find any notice of this fish in the memoir of Dr. Mitchill, although it 

 appears to be common on the coast ; for MM. Milbert and Lesueur have sent us a considera- 

 ble number of specimens, some of them twenty-two inches long. We are strongly inclined 

 to believe them to be the Aurata hahamensis of Gatesby ; if the teeth were not so long, we 

 should have no doubt of it. In that case, it would be the Sparus chrysops of Linneus. 



Such is the translation of the description of a fish from our coast, which the authors believe 

 to be a new species. We are disposed to view it as one of a group of SparidcB, characterized 

 by a recumbent dorsal, and comprising the -S. arenosus already noticed, and P. argyrops to 

 be hereafter described. It may either be one of these, or a new species. Upon comparison 

 with the furst, it diff'ers by its conical teeth, its six branchial rays and its want of bands, and 



