MITGHILL ON THE FISHES OF NEW-YORK. 397 



the edge are visible only. They are not bony, but yield to the gentlest 

 touch. 



Also, the gill-cover is not fairly tripartite ; but consists of no more 

 than two plain divisions. 



From a point near the upper and forepart of the posterior gill-plate, 

 there is an appearance of two or three darkish lines radiating toward 

 its extremity, backward and downward. But these, though they are 

 evident enough to the sight, give nothing bony or sharp to the touch. 

 The finger does not find any thing spinous or aculeated where the eye 

 led to the belief of such a structure. 



The weak fish cannot, therefore, be deemed a perca. I have been 

 obliged to separate him from his companion, the rock, notwithstanding 

 their numerous points of similitude. 



I have, upon the whole, associated him with the great family of La- 

 brus ; a connexion for which he seems to be qualified by his smooth 

 and scaly gill-covers, his sharp and strong teeth, and the softness of his 

 dorsal rays. 



I have given him the specific name by which the Narraganset natives 

 distinguish him, Squeteague. It would have been as easy to have 

 assigned the Mohegan appellative, Checouts. 



Head and back of the weak fish brown, with frequently a tinge of 

 greenish. The spaces toward the sides faintly silvery, with dusky 

 specks. These gradually disappear on the sides, until, on descending 

 to the belly, a clear white prevails from the chin to the tail. 



Mouth wide. Jaws toothed ; and in the upper mandible, one, two, 

 or three teeth, in front, longer and stronger than the rest; and resem- 

 bling the fangs of serpents. 



Throat, in front of the esophagus, armed above and below with col- 

 lections of small teeth. 



Eight softish rays in the foremost dorsal fin. Pectoral, dorsal, and 



