226 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



" and roundish spots. The modifications of these colors give the fish a very striking, and 

 " indeed elegant appearance ; quite equal to the Spanish mackerel, or indeed superior to it. 

 " Branchiostegous membrane, thirteen rays ; pectoral fin, thirteen ; ventral, nine ; anal, thir- 

 " teen ; dorsal, thirteen ; caudal, about twenty-one. The fins are reddish, and their color 

 " contrasts admirably with the others to increase the beauty of the fish. I know of no fish 

 " of the fresh, or even of the salt water, in the market and region of New- York, that equals 

 " it. The flesh is savory and fine. There is sometliing quite peculiar as to the number of 

 " rays in the fins of this fish, which has led me to the adoption of its specific name. For the 

 " branchiostegous pectoral and dorsal each contain thirteen rays, or with inconsiderable va- 

 " riations in the several individuals, was the most constant number. So it seems to afford 

 " ground for a term indicative of the original States in the Union, by the characteristic num- 

 " ber XIII." 



If tliere be no inaccuracy in the above description, which exhibits the characteristic quaint- 

 ness of the writer, this must be a distinct species. I have received several pike or pickerel 

 from this lake, which I referred without hesitation to E. reticulatus. The " inconsiderable 

 variations" may possibly include the above described species, which, however, demands a far- 

 ther examination. 



(EXTRA-LIMITAL) 



E. Indus? (Richardson, F. B. A.) Tip of each scale with a bright speck like the letter V. Scales 

 with four lobes. D. 20; P. 16; A. 18. Length two feet. Northern Regions. 



E. phaleraius. (Say, Ac. Sc. Vol. 1, p. 416.) A dorsal; reddish brown band, and three or four bands 

 of the same color on the sides. Not described. East-Florida. 



