464 REPORT OF THE 



Group OPHIDIOIDEI. 

 Family ZOARCIDiE. Eel Pouts. 



209. Muttonfish {Zoa?'ccs anguillaris Peck). 



The Muttonfish, or Eel Pout, is found on the Atlantic Coast from Labrador to 

 Delaware. It is rather common from New York northward. It grows to the length 

 of 2 or 3 feet. 



Mitchill has described this fish under several different names, and DeKay gives 

 it as the Thick-lipped Eel Pout and the Bordered Eel Pout. The differences 

 between the two are probably sexual. DeKay noticed the fish most abundantly in 

 the market in February and March. It was caught on the coast in company with 

 the common Cod. He says it feeds on various marine shells and affords a very 

 savory food. He states that the fishermen sometimes call it Ling and Conger Eel. 

 The fish is now found rather abundantly in the fall and winter on the fishing banks 

 near Sandy Hook. 



At Woods Hole, according to Dr. Smith, it is abundant in fall off Gayhead and 

 Cuttyhunk. It is caught while line fishing for Cod on rock bottom, and occasion- 

 ally late in the fall in Vineyard Sound, off Great Harbor, on lines baited for Tautog. 



Family OPHIDIIDiE. 



210. Slippery Dick {Rissola marginata DeKay). 



The Slippery Dick is found on the coast of the United States from New York 

 south to Pensacola and the coast of Texas. It is a very common fish. Mitchill 

 described it as the Cirr]ious Opliidiiun, mistaking it for a European species. 

 DeKay calls it the New York Ophidium. He had a specimen 9 inches long which 

 was taken in a seine in the harbor of New York, in company with a school of 

 Striped Bass. He states that it has so much the habits of some of the Codfishes, 

 and more especially of the genus Brotiila, that the fishermen called it the Little 

 Cusk. 



This is a rare fish in Gravesend Bay. One was obtained there October 24, 1894. 



Suborder CRANIOMI. 

 Family TRIGLIDiE. Gurnards. 



211. Sea Robin {Prionotus caroliiius Linnaeus). 



The Common Sea Robin is the Web-fingered Gurnard of Mitchill, who gives a 

 figure of the species. DeKay uses the same name for the fish. He says it is a very 



