MTTCHILL ON THE FISHES OF NEW-YORK. 373 



Length, ten inches ; depth, nearly three. Figure, that of a fish with 

 a small head, large body, and rather diminutive tail. 



Colour of the back and sides, pale brown, or whitish ; with lines be- 

 tween the scales. Hue of the neck and belly, a dull white, with suffu- 

 sions of cream colour. Two dorsal fins ; of which the foremost has 

 eight or nine rays. It is brown for a short distance above the back ; 

 then becomes white ; above, it exhibits the form of a black spot ; is 

 surmounted by the white tips, or summits of the rays. 



The second .dorsal consists of about forty-seven oblique rays; and 

 reaches almost to the tail. It varies but little from the colour of the 

 back. 



The anal fin reaches almost all the way from the vent to the tail. 

 It consists also of about forty-seven rays. It is browner than the con- 

 tiguous parts. Its extremity, or lower margin, is black. 



The ventral fins are two cleft ; and lilac or flesh coloured ; second 

 ray is two inches long. 



The pectoral fins are thirteen rayed, and roundish. Caudal fin, 

 twenty-three rayed, tapering at the sides, and nearly even at the end. 



Lateral line distinct and peculiar ; consisting of a narrow black 

 mark, extending from the upper part of the gill opening to the tail, and 

 alternating at spaces of half an inch apart, with white dashes about one 

 eighth of an inch long. The black and white of the lateral line make 

 a striking and pretty appearance. 



Chin has one small cirrhus. Lips, palate, and throat, armed with 

 minute sharp teeth. Mouth capacious. Eyes large and whitish. 

 Lower jaw shuts within the upper. Scales soft and very deciduous. 



In some individuals there is an imperfect whitish straight fillet under 

 the lateral line. This is one of the rarest of the enumerated species. 



