452 REPORT OF THE 



183. Bessy Corka {Balistcs vctula Linnaeus). 



The Bessy Corka is sometimes called Oldwife, Oldwench, or Cochino. It fre- 

 quents the tropical parts of the Atlantic, is common in the West Indies, ranging 

 northward occasionally in the Gulf Stream as far as Cape Cod. According to Dr. 

 Smith, it occurs in the vicinity of Woods Hole, Mass., every season, mostly in 

 September, when adults are taken in some numbers in the traps at Menemsha. 

 During summer and fall the young, i^^ to 2 inches long, are found at the 

 surface in Vineyard Sound in gulfweed, and also around the shores. It is known 

 there as Trigger Fish and Leather Jacket. 



Family MONACANTHIDiE. File Fishes. 



184. File Fish {Monacaiit/nis hispidiis Linnaeus). 



The File Fish is called the Fool Fish, Leather Fish, Horny Cony, and Lija. It 

 grows to the length of 10 inches, and is found from Cape Cod to Cuba, also through 

 the West Indies to Brazil, and in the Canaries and Madeira. It is abundant on our 

 South Atlantic Coast and at the Florida Keys, and is sometimes very common in 

 New York waters in the summer. 



Mitchill described the fish, and DeKay has it under the name of the Thread 

 Fish. His description was made from an example taken from New York harbor in 

 August. Some specimens brought to him had their stomachs filled with small crabs. 



At Woods Hole, Mass., the fish is present every year; sometimes scarce and 

 sometimes abundant. In May, 1897, it was extremely numerous in July and 

 August, and several hundred were often taken in one day. It may often be seen 

 under gulfweed, but is usually more numerous in eelgrass and rockweed. In the 

 aquarium, small File Fish often annoy and injure other fish, following them with 

 great persistency, and biting their fins, eyes and other parts. 



The fish is taken in Gravesend Bay occasionally in the fall from September to 

 November. A single specimen was obtained August 16, 1898, at Point of Woods, 

 Great South Bay. 



185. Orange File Fish {Alutera scJicepfii Walbaum). 



The Orange File Fish is found along the coast from Cape Cod to Texas; it is 

 rather common on sandy shores, especially south of Cape Hatteras. It grows to 

 the length of 24 inches. Mitchill described the adult from a New York specimen in 

 1815, and DeKay gave a name and illustration of the young in 1842. Mitchill calls 

 it the Sharp-tailed File Fish, and DeKay named it the Long-tailed Unicorn Fish. 

 DeKay said that this is not an uncommon species in New York waters. He states 



