MITCHILL ON THE FISHES OF NEW-YORK. 399 



2. Black-Fish, or Tautog. (Labrus tautoga.) With head and gill- 

 covers smooth ; lips thick, and covering the teeth ; one row of distinct 

 teeth in each jaw, with rudiments of more ; patches of teeth in the 

 throat ; and a single dorsal fin. 



Black-fish of New-York. Tautog of the Mohegans. Tide black- 

 fish, or runners. The name of this fish is derived from the colour of 

 its back and sides, being of a bluish, or crow black. Lips, lower jaw, 

 neck, and belly, white, particularly in the males. Mouth rather small- 

 Lips skinny or fleshy. Teeth, to about the number of twelve, in each 

 of the jaws : the two front ones are the largest, and the rest of the 

 respective rows gradually decrease in size. Within the regular empale- 

 ments, are the points of smaller teeth, inserted with rather less regu- 

 larity ; they are sharp, distinct, and covered by the lips. Tongue 

 white, smooth, lying close, but discoverable by raising. Tail entire, 

 and somewhat convex, the middle rays being rather more prominent 

 than the upper and lower ones. 



Gill-cover smooth, and neither scaly, serrated, nor rough. Extremi- 

 ties of the pectoral fins whitish. Nostrils double. Eyes rather smalL 

 Back rounded upward, and belly downward, which, together with his 

 well-covered cheeks and head, give him a very plump appearance. 



Has a triangular patch of teeth, making a sort of bony pavement, in 

 the lower part of his throat ; and two roundish patches in the upper 

 part, just before the orifice of the gullet. The seventeen first rays of 

 the dorsal fin project with naked spines ; and to each is annexed a 

 ramentose process. Two spinous rays behind the vent. 



Rays, Br. 5. P. 15. V. 6. D. 28. A. 9. C. 15. 



The black-fish abounds in the vicinity of Long-Island, and is a sta- 

 tionary inhabitant of the salt water. He never visits the rivers, like 

 salmon or sturgeon ; nor, on the other hand, deserts his dwelling-place 

 as they do. He is fond of rocks, reefs, and rough bottoms. He is 



