192 MITCHILL ON THE FISHES OF NEW-YORK. 



menced a silvery riband about an inch and a half wide, and extended to 

 the tail. The chin, gill membrane, neck, belly, and lower sides of the 

 ventral fins, excepting these tips, a milk white. The upper sides of the 

 v enlrals, which close to the body, dusky ; and iheir extremities of the 

 same complexion on both sides. The pectoral fins are pointed. Behind 

 them, a black horizontal line or seam, two inches long. 



The first five or six rays of the dorsal and anal fins, considerably 

 longer than the rest. The ventrals are small, and situated very near each 

 other. 



The skin is covered with small adhering scales. 



The lateral line runs from the upper part of the gill-opening, rising a 

 little, and meandering a little, quite into the caudal fin, but terminates 

 before it reaches the end of the tail. 



The rays in the fins are all soft, and in some of them difficult to be 

 numbered ; but as nearly as they can be ascertained, they are as follows, 

 viz. 



Br. 7. V. 6. P. 16. D. 33. A. 24. C. 20. 



On dissecting this fish, the most remarkable occurrence was the sto- 

 mach distended with food, consisting of twenty spotted sand-crabs that 

 were entire enough to be counted, and several young flounders. 



This fish was boiled and served up at my table ; on which occasion my 

 family, servants and all* had but one opinion, that it was one of the best 

 we had ever eaten. 



*** There are some dates more recent than the reading of the memoir. These refer to 

 certain articles which came to my knowledge since the paper was presented, and which it • 

 seemed improper to exclude. 



