MTTCHILL ON THE FISHES OF NEW-YORK. 419 



Lips distinct. Mouth moderate. Lower jaw rather jutting, and 

 acutely toothed. Upper jaw also armed with a row of sharp teeth. 

 Tongue broad, and smooth, with clouded edges A dark membrane 

 of a semi-lunar form inside of the mouth, immediately within the teeth 

 of the lower jaw. Near the extremity of this latter, four bronzy spots. 



Lateral line bends upward, somewhat irregularly at first, and then 

 proceeds with an easy slope to the tail. Scales form a firm coating. 



The first eleven rays of the dorsal fin are spinous, and rather ramen- 

 tose. The first three anals are also spinous ; and so likewise is the first 

 ray of the ventral. This latter is stout and strong, while the pectoral 

 fin looks delicate and weak. 



The colour of the back and sides is a rustv black ; of the belly, a 

 ditty clay, variegated with blackish and yellowish specks. A dull yel- 

 low is very distinguishable behind the eyes, above the gill-covers, along 

 the insertion of the dorsal fin, the commencement of the lateral line, 

 and under the pectoral fins. The dorsal, anal, and ventral fins are a little 

 tinctured with yellowish, amid the inky suffusion. The pectoral fin is 

 pale and semi-transparent, appearing very faintly yellow, when viewed 

 by itself; but when lying close to the side, showing the yellow scales 

 through it. The whitest part of the fish is immediately beneath the 

 pectoral fin. Some of the fishermen call him black grunts. 



Rays, Br. 6. P. 15. V. 6. D. 27. A. 13. C. 16. 



4. Pigmy Perch. (JBodianus exiguus.) A very small species, taken 

 among the shrimp, and scarcely larger than'the most minute stickle-back. 



Length one inch ; depth one eighth of an inch. 



For a fish of his size, the head and eyes are rather above proportion. 

 The gill-covers are ample, and their openings wide. 



The foremost gill plate is serrated and aculeated. Excepting the 

 abdominal region, the body is generally semi-transparent, so that the 

 vertebra? may be distinguished. 



