— ———— 
SHEEPS-HEAD. 983 
Corvina oscula, Cuv. et VAL. Hist. Nat. de Poiss., v, 1830, 98.—RicHARDSON, Fauna 
Bor.-Amer., iii, 1836, 68 —KirRTLAND, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist., ili, 1840, 350.— DEKay, 
Fishes N. Y., 1842, 73—Srorer, Synopsis, 1846, 319.—GunTHER, Cat. Fishes Brit. 
Mus,, ii, 1860, 297. | 
Sciena grisea, LESUEHUR, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila, 1822, 254. 
Corvina grisea, DEKaAy, Fishes N. Y., 1342, 76. OEE: 
? Corvina richardsoni, CUV. and VAL., Hist. Nat. Poiss., v, 100 —RicHaRDSON, Fauna 
Bor, Amer., 1836, 64—GuNTAER, ii, 298 (based on a deformed individual). 
? Hutychelithus richardsoni, JORDAN, Man. Vert., lst Ed , 242. 
Amblodon concinnus, AGASSIZ, Amer. Journ. Sci. Arts, 1854, 307. 
_ Haploidonotus concinnus, GitL, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1861, 104.—JoRDAN, Man. 
Vert., 1876. 
Amblodon lineatus, AGASsiz, Amer. Journ. Sci. Arts, 1854, 307. 
Haploidonotus lineatus, GILL, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1861, 105.—JORDAN, Man. Vert., 
1876. 
Amblodon neglectus, GIRARD, U. S. Mex. Bound. Surv., Ichth., 1859, 12. 
Haploidonotus neglectus, GILL, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila , 1861, 105. 
Description —Body cbiong, rather elongate, the front rather steep, the outline of the 
back posteriorly forming a nearly straight slope with scarcely any curve; the caudal 
peduncle rather slender; back very much compressed, its thickness being very much less 
than that of the belly; the greatest depth about one-third of the length; head oblong, 
the suout high and blunt; length of head contained about three and one-half times 
in the length of body (without caudal tin); mouth rather small, rather inferior; teeth 
in a villiform band in each jaw, that of the upper preceded by a row of slightly 
larger ones; eyes rather large, placed anteriorly, their diameter about equal to the 
length of the snout, and about one-fourth of the length of the side of the head; scales 
rather irregular in position, 50 to 54 in the course of the lateral line, seven or eight 
rows between the lateral line and the dorsal, and ten or twelve between it and the ven- 
trals; fin rays: D. IX-1, 30; A II, 7; first of the anal fin short, the second very large 
and long, attached to a stout bone; general color grayish-silvery, the back darker, the 
scales considerably punctate with fine dark points. Young spetimens are often 
marked on the back with oblique lines, caused by the presence of darker spots along 
the rows of scales. This species reaches a length of more than two feet and a weight 
of forty to fifty pounds; specimens as seen in markets have usually a weight of one to 
five pounds. 
‘Habitat, entire Great Lake Region and Mississippi Valley, southward to Georgia and 
Texas. It is found chiefly in the channels of the larger streams and in the lakes. It 
seldom ascends the creeks and small rivers. 
Diagnosis.—This species is the only one in Ohio which has two anal 
Spines, whereof the second is very much longer and stronger than the 
first. 3 
In the Great Lakes this species is very abundant, and reaches a large 
size. Itis there known as Sheeps-head, and is very rarely eaten as food. 
It has there the reputation of being “the most worthless fish that swims.” 
The flesh has at all times a more or less disagreeable shark-like odor, 
which, in lake specimens, is often positively offensive. In the lakes the 
