102 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



diminishing to the last, which scarcely appears above the surface, being concealed in a deep 

 and narrow fissure extending backward about a fourth of an inch. There is, however, no 

 distinct furrow for the reception of the whole fin. The second is one-third the height of the 

 first, and its distance from the anterior ray of that fin is equal to the space between the vent 

 and the bifurcation of the caudal fin ; it is composed of ten rays, some of which appear to be 

 double. Behind these are the spurious fins or finlets, six in number, equidistant, each com- 

 posed of one ray with a long posterior branch. In some individuals, (as in the plate,) the first 

 finlet is small and simple. I have seen them with only four finlets above and beneath, but 

 five appears to be the normal number. The last finlet may be said to be composed of two 

 rays, both ramose, the posterior almost reaching the accessory rays of the caudal fin. Pec- 

 torals moderate, acute ; the first and second rays articulate, simple, shorter than the third ; 

 the fourth longest. Two or three of the posterior rays scarcely distinguishable ; the tip 

 reaches to the fourth ray of the first dorsal. The ventrals are situate behind the last rays of 

 the pectoral ; its first ray simple, slender, shorter than the second ; the two following, with 

 all the others, branched ; a delicate membrane connects this ray with the skin : the whole fin 

 lies in an obsolete furrow. A low spine before the first ray of the anal fin, which is short and 

 simple ; the second articulated ; the third highest, and, with the remclinder, branched ; the 

 whole fin is longer than high, slightly excavated on its outer margin. Five equidistant finlets 

 behind the anal, the last distinctly two-rayed. Caudal fin deeply forked, with eight articu- 

 lated accessory rays on each side.* The middle rays are so ramose as to render it difficult 

 to count them. Two small cutaneous elevations of the skin or ridges on each side of the tail ; 

 they diverge forward, and are about • 5 long. The excretory duct opens behind the vent by 

 a separate aperture. No vestige of an air-bladder. 



Color. Resembling that of its congeners : the colors of this fish are exceedingly vivid. 

 Dark steel-blue above, becoming lighter on the sides, and mixed with metallic green near the 

 lateral fine. From 24 - 30 vertical deep blue half-bands, which are sometimes angular like 

 the military chevron, often waved, interrupted, and occasionally forming irregular circles. 

 Below the lateral line, and parallel with it, is a longitudinal dull brownish line, often inter- 

 rupted, and sometimes forming a series of inequidistant irregular spots : occasionally both 

 line and spots wanting. Beneath silvery, with greenish and yellowish metallic reflections. 

 A black blotch at the base of the pectorals and ventrals. Pectorals, second dorsal and caudal 

 dark-colored ; the remaining fins lighter. Irides white, with a slight tinge of yellowish. 



Length, 15-0 - 17-0. Depth, 2-5 - 3-0. 



Fin rays, D. 13. 10 + vi ; P. 17 ; V. 6 ; A. 12 -|- v ; C. 15 |. 



Schoepff unquestionably alludes to this species under the head of S. scomher : "About the 

 " end of May and the beginning of June, these fish arrive in great scholes at New- York and 



* Some modem ichthyological writers consider as accessory r.iys, all exterior to the two longest rays on each side, and do not 

 enumerate them. In the case of lanceolate or rounded rays, this cannot be done ; and we tlierefore think it advisable, in all cases, 

 to enumerate all the rays. 



