MITCHILL ON THE FISHES OF NEW-YORK, 403 



tering ones. Hea * smooth and fleshy. About seventeen of the dorsal 

 rays have naked spinous points, and are ramentose between. 



Lateral line curved upward, and consisting of a succession of oblique 

 oblong dots. Three ramentose spines before the anal fin. Tail broad, 

 convex, or rather longest about the middle rays. Tongue white and 

 smooth. Colour bluish, bordering on green. The green is plainest 

 about the gill-covers, anal fin, and ventrals. Sometimes the back 

 faintly clouded, and variegated with orange specks. A neat little fish, 

 and tenacious of life when exposed to the air, though less so than the 

 black-fish. A triangular pavement of teeth in the throat below, and 

 two oblong patches above, just before the gullet. 



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



There is a remarkable variety of the chogset, viz. 



L. C. fulva. Yellow bergall. A reddish yellow over the whole sur- 

 face is the distinguishing feature. This is, by some, conjectured to be 

 owing to confinement in cars, or wells of smacks ; and in some degree 

 to the coldness of the water in winter. Whether these suppositions be 

 true or not, the fish appears perfectly well formed and healthy. 



4. Fresh-water Sunfish, or Pond Perch. (Labrus auritus.) With 

 speckled sides, yellow belly, and elongated gill-covers, marked with a 

 black and red spot. 



Length about six inches ; depth two and a half. Body coated firmly 

 with semi-circular scales. Lateral line dotted, and corresponding to 

 the curvature of the back. 



Colour various ; being a brown along the back, mixed with reddish, 

 rusty, and ochreous, down the sides. Belly distinctly yellow. Ventral 

 fins yellowish ; and the pectoral and anal tinged with the same. 



A black spot at the extremity of the gill-cover, tipped with scarlet. 



Opening of the mouth rather narrow ; of the gills moderate. Small 

 serrae or teeth to the lips. Tongue small, and far back. 



First ten dorsal rays, and three first anal, spinous. 



