156 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



Length, 30-0. 



Fin rays, D. 114.18; P. 20; V. 4 ; A. 105; C. 20. 



From the extreme difficulty in counting the rays in this species, a great variety has arisen 

 among different describers. According to 



Peck, D. 146 ; P. — ; V. 3 ; A. 123 ; C. 



MiTCHiLL, D. 125 -8 or 9; P. 19; V. 4; A. 103; C. 



Storer, D. 120.17 or 18; p. 19; V. 2; a. 100. 



Ctjv. et Val. D. 92.21.22=135; P. 20; V. 4; A. 110; C. 19. 



I have noticed this fish most abundantly in the market in February and March. It is 

 caught on the coast, in company vv^ith the common cod. It feeds on various marine shells, 

 and affords a very savory food. I have employed the English name of Eel-pout, which is 

 apphed to its congener the Z. viviparus, to designate this fish. It is called, absurdly enough, 

 by the fishermen, Ling and Conger-eel. According to Cuvier, this species has one hundred 

 and thirty-seven vertebras. 



THE BORDERED EEL-POUT. 



ZOIRCES FIMBBIATHS. 



PLATE XVI. FIG. 44. 



The Fringed Blenny, B. cUiatus. MiTCHiLL, Lit. and Phil. Soc. Vol. 1, p. 374, pi. 1, fig. 6. 

 La Zoarces frangi, Z.fimbriatus. CoT. et Val. Hist, dcs Poiss. Vol. 11, p. 468. 



Characteristics. Head greenish browrn. Body and tail salmon-colored. Dorsal fin dark green, 

 margined with yellowish. Length 18-20 inches. 



Description. Form of the head and body similar to the preceding, smooth and scaleless. 

 Teeth on the sides of the jaw, large, distant, obtusely conical, and sufficiently translucent to 

 permit the central vascularity to be seen. In front there are two rows ; the outer row con- 

 sisting of five on each side, projecting outwardly ; and both rows composed of smaller teeth 

 than those on the sides. In the upper jaw, the teeth are more acute, subequal, except the 

 two anterior, which are slightly longer ; behind these is a short series of minute teeth. The 

 pharyngeal teeth small and acute, and ranged in transverse series. Tongue broad and smooth. 

 Branchial rays six. 



The dorsal fin commences above, and slightly in advance of the ventrals ; it contains ninety- 

 five distinct rays, enveloped in a thick membrane ; then follow sixteen low spines ; and from 

 thence to the tip of the pointed caudal, are twenty-six rays. As the connection between the 

 anal and caudal is continuous (as in the preceding species), it is impossible to say where the 

 anal terminates, or the caudal fin proper begins. The anal, counted to the extreme tip of the 

 tail, contains one hundred and twenty-five rays. On the supposition that those rays which 

 in other species constitute tlie caudal fin amount to twenty on each side, we would have for 



