MITCHILL ON THE FISHES OF NEW-YORK. 411 



His name of drum has been given on account of a drumming noise 

 he makes, immediately after being taken out of water. 



Rays, Br. 6. P. 18. V. 6. D. 9—21. A. 7. C. 19. 



He swims in numerous shoals in the shallow bays on the sou'h side of 

 Long-Island, where fishermen, during the warm season, can find them 

 almost like a flock of sheep. Is a dull sort of fish. 



3. Beardless Drum. (Scicma imberbis.} Without cirrhi to the 

 chin, with lengthened body, and with a black spot on each side of the tail. 



The individual which I examined on the 5th of October, 1314, was 

 nearly three feet in length, eight inches in depth, and nineteen in girth, 

 and weighed sixteen pounds. 



Has a row of teeth in each lip, and patches of teeth in the throat, 

 and the general features of the drum. But is not so thick in propor- 

 tion to his length. His complexion is brighter. In particular the 

 cheeks, gill-covers, and sides round the insertion of the pectoral fins, 

 are of a bright metallic yellowish white. The head is smooth, though 

 with the appearance of scales. The nose has holes and processes as 

 the drum has. Inside of the gill-covers blackish. 



The chin has five holes or openings, but has not a single cirrhus. 



Upon the upper part of the tail, on each side, is a black spot, about 

 three quarters of an inch in diameter, resembling the brand of a hot 

 iron upon wood ; whence he has been called the branded drum. 



The branchial rays are six. There are two dorsal fins, the foremost 

 of which lowers into a furrow, and has ten spinous rays. The second 

 has twenty-six rays. The ventral has five ; the pectoral seventeen ; 

 anal ten, the first of which is stiffly spinous ; the caudal seventeen. In 

 the middle there is a continuation of scales quite to the end. 



The bones supporting the gills are all furnished with patches of teeth 

 next the throat. There are no small intestines ; the space is short 

 between the stomach and the colon, and to the latter are annexed 



