132 NEW- YORK FAUNA. 



must have been intended. Old fishermen assure me that previous to the arrival of the Blue- 

 fish on our coast, there were great numbers of a fish very different in appearance, much larger, 

 exceedingly voracious, and from his general color also called the Blue-fish. None of these, 

 they say, are now seen on the coast. SchcEpff, who wrote a memoir on the fishes of North 

 America, and more especially of the New-York waters, in 1788, states (p. 166), "The Blue- 

 " fish of Rhode Island belongs to the genus of Perches, if indeed it is not in reality the above 

 " described Black-fish." This above described fish is our Sea Bass, or Centropristes nigri- 

 cans, which, it will be recollected, is also called Blue-fish. 



Cuvier, with his usual sagacity, has disentangled the synonimes of this fish ; but as it 

 would have little interest to the American ichthyologist, it would be needless to repeat it here. 

 It may, however, be observed, that the first figure and description was given by Catesby, and 

 are equally insignificant. 



The Blue-fish has a very extensive geographic range, having been found on the coasts of 

 Brazil, of New-Holland, Madagascar, Amboyna, and in the Mediterranean along the coast 

 of Egypt. On this side of the Atlantic, they range from Brazil to Cape Cod on the coast of 

 Massachusetts. 



GENUS CORYPHiENA. Cuvier. 



Head compressed, trenchant ; its profile elliptical or rounded. Eyes near the angle of the 

 mouth. Ventrals thoracic. Scales small. Dorsal fin single, commencing at the nape, 

 where it is usually most elevated, and extending along the back nearly to the tail. 



Obs. This genus, first established by Linneus, but subsequently remodelled and restricted 

 by Cuvier, comprises about thirteen species, all closely resembling each other. They are all 

 distinguished by the brilliancy of their color, and the varying hues which they assume while 

 dying. They are called the Sailor''s Doljjhin, to distinguish them from a species of Dclphi- 

 nus or Porpoise which is also called Dolphin, and which is, for the sake of distinction, called 

 the Dolphin of the ancients, being the dolphin alluded to by the ancient poets. 



THE BOTTLE-HEADED DOLPHIN. 



CORTPHi:NA GLOEICEPS. 

 PLATE X. FIG. 29. 

 Common Coryphme, C. hippuris. Mitchill, Lit. and Phil. Trans. N. Y. Vol. 1, p. 378. 



Characteristics. Head prominent, rounded, and much compressed above. Length of the 

 lobes of the caudal to the whole length, as 1 to 4' 8. Length forty-two 

 inches. 



Description. Body compressed, lamelliform, elongated. Height of the body at the pec- 

 torals to its total length, as 1 to 4" 8 ; at the tail, as 1 to 20. Length of the head one sixth 



