OF GENUS CICHLA. 221 



wards the dorsal anteriorly ; head arquated ; eye ve- 

 ry large ; pupil and iris very large ; dorsal fin long, 

 divided into two equal parts, the anterior part of 9 

 spinous rays, and much lower than the soft part, 

 which is rounded, with 14 divided rays ; anal equal 

 to the posterior part of the dorsal and of 13 rays, of 

 which 3 are spinous ; caudal of 15 to 18 rays ; pec- 

 toral large, placed very low near the operculum ; tho- 

 racic fin much smaller than the pectoral, and placed 

 exactly heneath them ; anal large : scales very small; 

 colour deep gray, tinted with bluish on the back, with 

 metallic reflections on the sides and abdomen, and 

 with points or small black and brown spots on the 

 abdomen and back, and a spot upon the neck ; lateral 

 line straight, on the middle of the body ; caudal fin 

 subtruncated, of 17 or 18 rays ; teeth very small, in 

 many ranges on the jaws and palate ; mouth deeply 

 divided. 



Lives in the small lagoons of tranquil water, which 

 discharge by narrow channels into Lake Erie. 



Its length is 9 lines. 



An account of some of the marine shells of the United 

 States. By Thomas Say. Read July 24, 1821. 



During occasional visits to our sea coast, and par- 

 ticularly on a journey to East Florida, in company 

 with Messrs. Maclure, Ord, and T. Peale, I availed 

 myself of every favourable opportunity to collect ma- 



