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160-mean temperature of the month estimated between morning and evening 46°.4'.

Nearly the same constitution of the weather having prevailed in this as in the former month, little alteration has taken place in the state and variety of diseases, or extent of mortality. In the existing multitude of morbid affections, fevers still take the lead. Disorders connected with derangements of the stomach and intestinal canal have also continued to occur, though in rather less proportion; but from the want of sudden and extensive atmospheric variations, complaints of an inflammatory nature have been less frequent than is usual at this time of the year. A typhoid tendency has been the most general character of the acute diseases of this month. Typhous fever still prevails, and with much the same fatality. The infantile remittent, which was formerly described, has, since the commencement of Autumn, assumed in many instances the nature of synochus, and in a few protracted cases has exhibited symptoms of a putrid tendency; being accompanied with a dry brown tongue, weak and quick pulse, violent pains in the head, delirium, or coma, and pains and distension of the stomach or intestines, sometimes with diarrhoea, and sometimes with costiveness.

Small Pox is gradually extending.

One of the cases of urticaria occurred from eating lobsters. As there was much inflammatory fever, bloodletting was ne eessary, although the stomach and bowels had been well emptied by the early use of evacuants.

A case of ascites, tending to general dropsy, was cured by venesection and other antiphlogistic treatment, calculated to diminish the excitement of the exhalent vessels. After the subsidence of inflammatory action in the exhalent arteries, corroborant medicines were employed, to restore the general tone of the system. The subject of the disease was a female, aged 25 years, who had laboured under a suppression of the Catamenia for several months preceding the appearance of dropsy.

In the New-York Bills of mortality for November, the following number of deaths has been recorded:

Apoplexy, 5; Burned, 3; Catarrh, 1; Childbed, 1; Cholera Morbus, 1; Consumption, 53; Convulsions, 14; Diarrhæa, 7; Dropsy, 6; Dropsy in the Head, 7; Drowned, 4; Dysentery, 3; Epilepsy, 1; Fever Bilious, 1; Fever Intermittent, 2; Fever Typhous, 22; Flux Infantile, 2; Hives, 4; Hæmoptysis, 2; Inflammation of the Bowels, 6; Inflammation of the Brain, 2; Inflammation of the Chest, 4; Inflammation of the Liver, 5; Inflammation of the Lungs, 1; Insanity, 1; Intemperance, 5; Marasmus, 3; Manslaughter, 1; Menorrhagia, 1; Nervous Disease, 3; Old Age, 7; Palsy, 2; Pleurisy, 1; Scalded, 1; Scrophula, 1; Small Pox, 3; Stillborn, 10; Sudden Death, 1; Suicide, 1; Tabes Mesenterica, 7; Ulcer, 1; Worms, 1. Total 208.

Of whom their died 42 of and under the age of 1 year; 12 between 1 and 2 years; 11 between 2 and 5; 8 between .5 and 10; 16 between 10 and 20; 35 between 20 and 30; 23 between 30 and 40; 19 between 40 and 50; 8 between 50 and 60; 10 between 60 and 70; 11 between 70 and 80; 3 between 30 and 90; and 1 between 90 and 100.

JACOB DYCKMAN, M. D. New-York, Nov. 30th, 1817.

To READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS.

A part of the copy of the Review of Pursh's Flora, having been accidently mislaid, that article is abruptly terminated in this number. The review will be completed in our next.

We have several communications on hand, which shall appear next month.

In compiling the journal of the proceedings of Congress, we have relied principally on the abstract given in the National Intelligencer, which we believe to be faithfully and ably rendered.

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ANGUILLA, EEL.

Total 42

The Eel of Success Pond was brought to me in an entire state on the 30th April, 1817. From an examination of half a dozen individuals, I was enabled to complete the description. The Lake in which these creatures were found has no connexion with salt water, or any other water. Occasionally from rains, or a deficiency of evapo-12 ration, it overflows, and the surplusage of water finds its way to Little Neck Bay, emptying into Long-Island Sound in the Eastern part of the town of Flushing. But there is no evidence of Eels returning from the Sound to the Lake at any time; for the overflow, when it happens, is so scanty that it is merely a gush of a few days duration at most, and so transient that the channel quickly returns to the condition of arable land. The Eels of Success Pond may therefore be considered, in the strict sense of the 31

word, fresh water Eels. On this account I procured them for examination by the aid of my friends Mr. Benj. Fowler, and Mr. Isaac Hicks, who live in the neighbourhood. One of the heaviest of the Success Eels weighed three pounds and four ounces. The length was thirty three inches and a half, and the girth rather more than seven inches. The lower jaw longer than the upper; nostrils tubular. On each side, reaching backwards and above the upper lip, four holes or orifices, a short distance from each other. Between the tubular nostril and the eye two other orifices nearly of the same size and considerably larger. Along the lower jaw also a row of orifices on each side. All these, save that near the eye, seem to effuse a slimy liquid, and that appears to be the nostril. There are ten rays to the gill membrane, 456 to the united dorsal, caudal, and anal fin, and 19 to the pectoral.

The colour is dark brown on the back, in some individuals inclining to black, in others toward greenish and yellow. Frequently the sides are diversified with lightly cloudy variegations, not however having the distinctness of spots. The belly is whitish with shades of yellowish, brown, or greenish. Lateral line distinct and straight. Rib-spaces very evident. Lower margin of the anal fin often coloured yellowish. The dorsal fin begins about one third of the distance between the tip of the upper jaw and the tail. The vent is situated rather nearer the head than to the other extremity. Tongue large, smooth, pointed, with a distinguishable frænum beneath. Pupil of the eye black, Iris yellow, skin covers the eye. Teeth small, though visible as well as palpable, forming several rows in each jaw, and in the upper uniting into a patch on the forepart of the Palate.

Hence I conclude, upon a survey of the whole matter, that these Eels are not specifically different from those of the salt water, nor is the species different by any actual character I am able to assign from the Anguilla vulgaris of Bloch.

ANNARICHAS.

SBA WOLF-Anarrhicas lupus, with distinct strong diverging teeth; with large head and jaws, and one dorsal fin reaching almost to the tail. This description is made from a fine specimen in the Museum of Mr. Trowbridge, at Albany. The length of the individual now before me is two feet and six inches. Figure resembling that of a Blenny, being large toward the head and thorax, and tapering away toward the tail. Was taken by the fishermen when angling for cod, and brought into Boston.

The mouth is large, and when opened discloses five strong white and pointed teeth in each jaw. Of these, three are rather smaller than the other two; to wit, the front one and the two hindmost ones; the two middle teeth, particularly in the upper jaw, have the canine form and strength. The head is ample and fleshy, the nostrils tubular, eyes large. The dorsal fin is composed of numerous rays, and reaches from

its commencement a few inches behind the head, in a broad expansion, almost to the tail. The anal fin reaches from the vent also almost to the tail. After a short and small interruption the caudal fin projects from the narrowed and attenuated tail, in a somewhat rounded and fan-like expansion of a very moderate size. The pectoral fins are stout, and of the same dark complexion with the body. The hue of the head, and of the dorsal and anal fins rather more pale.

XIPHIAS, SWORDFISH.

Generic character.--Body cylindrically roundish, head furnished with an elongation of the upper jaw in the form of a sword, mouth destitute of teeth, eight rays to the branchiostegous membrane.

SWORD-FISH-Xiphias gladius—an individual of this species was taken off SandyHook, by means of a harpoon, on the 19th June, 1817; the next day it was brought to the New-York market, and cut up, like holibut and sturgeon, for food. The length was about twelve feet, and the girth by estimation five.

The head was elongated forward into a blade or flat projection thirty eight inches long, and near its junction with the head four broad. It gradually tapered away to an edge on the sides, and to a point at the end. This edge was neither toothed nor serrated, but fortified with a hard substance resembling flint, yet not hard enough in its fresh state to strike fire with steel. It was covered with skin resembling that of a shark. The thick ness of the sword near the head was two inches and an half; it was blackish above, and whitish beneath. There were longitudinal depressions to the number of four on the upper side.

The gills were divided into eight pairs; and were of a more spongy constitution, and more retentive of blood than usually hap pens in fishes. In this respect they seemed to border somewhat upon lungs. The tail was shaped like a crescent, and measured thirty eight inches across from tip to tip. The flukes were equal, and the length of each was twenty seven inches. There was a skinny or fin-like appendage lengthwise on each side, corresponding with the lateral line.

The greatest height of the dorsal fin was twenty two inches, and its connexion to the back was by a base of eleven. The greatest length of the anal fin was twelve inches and a half, with a depth of seven at the place of connexion.

The pectoral fins were twenty-two inches in length and five inches deep at the body. All the fins, more especially the dorsal and anal, had a falciform figure.

The skin was without scales, the belly of a light complexion, and the back and sides of a silvery gray.

The mouth was beneath, and toothless; the lower jaw was short, and terminated in a point. The stomach contained seven or eight mackerels.

The flesh was remarkably firm; it was purchased at a quarter of a dollar the pound. I tasted a chop of it broiled, and found it

savoury and excellent. It resembled the best sturgeon, without its strong and oily flavour. While I ate it I thought of vealcutlet. The eyes were very large. These observations were made by the assistance of Enoch Johnson, Jun. Esq. and Mr. Isaac Fairchild, of New-York. I have been informed by my friend, John Remmey, that a sword-fish, sixteen feet long, was exhibited at New-York in the year 1791.

PHYCIS MARGINATUS, Rafin.

New-York, 27th Nov. 1815. I beg leave to hand you a drawing and description of a new species of fish from your shores, which appears to have escaped your notice, (since it is not mentioned in your paper on the Ichthyology of New

York,) in order that you may add it to the supplement you are preparing.

I observed several of these fishes on the 3d instant, on board of a fishing-smack off Judith Point, Rhode Island, the very same day of my unfortunate shipwreck." The drawing and description I made being in my pocket at the time, were among the few objects I saved, which now enable me to add one fact to the general stock of ichthylogical knowledge.

I am truly, dear Sir, Your friend and servant, C. S. RAFINESQUE. The Gadus marginatus is thus described by my worthy friend C. S. Rafinesque, under the name of Phycis, a new genus:

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PHYCIS-Generic definition. Gills complete, lower fins jugular, formed by many (more than one) rays, partly connected together without any membrane; two dorsal fins, caudal fin unconnected.

PHYCIS MARGINATUS-Specific definition. Lower jaw the shortest, and with a small beard; jugular fins white, with two rays, and reaching to the anal fin; body brown above, white underneath; fins brown, the first dorsal triangular, and with ten rays, the caudal fin rounded and marginated with black, lateral line bent in the middle.

Description.-Full grown length nearly two feet; body cylindrical, or rather a little fusiform, being a little swelled towards the belly; head flattened above; mouth large, with striking lips and small teeth; upper jaw the largest, and longer than the lower one, which has below a small conical appendage or beard; strils small, without any crest; eyes large, situated over the corners of the mouth; iris white; prunella black. The whole colour of a light brown above, and of a dirty white underneath, both on the head and body; the lateral line is incurvated behind the abdomen. The jugular fins are white, slender two-fingered, the two rays connected nearly to the middle, but after wards free; the anterior is a little longer, and reaches to the anal fin. All the other fins are brown, the pectoral are oblong, obtuse, and with twelve rays; the first dorsal is triangular, and with ten rays, none of which extend beyond the membrane; the second dorsal is longitudinal, and with sixty rays; the anal is similar, but shorter, and with only forty rays; the caudal has about

twenty rays, is nearly round and marginated, with black on the posterior part.

History. This fish may bear in English the vulgar name of marginated Phycis, or Cusk Phycis. It inhabits the shores of North America, and particularly those of Connecticut, Rhode Island, and the Long Island Sound, where it is a resident, since it is caught both in summer and winter. It bears the vulgar appellation of Cusk, which appears to be an aboriginal name; but as the same name is applied by fishermen to several fishes of the Blennidia family it may lead into error. This animal is caught together with the codfishes, and in the same bottoms, where it feeds on smaller fishes. It is, however, a much scarcer fish, and as it is not so good, is not much known, although it is carried sometimes to the New-York market. Its flesh is soft, like that of many species of the genera Blennius and Cyprinus, but good enough to eat, particularly fried.

This species, as in fact all its congeners, is much more akin to the genus Merluccius (Gadus sp. with two dorsal fins and one anal fin) than to the genus Blennius, which has only one dorsal fin; it differs, however, by the family characters of the defect of membrane between the rays of the jugular fins, besides the gill-cover having no membranaceous appendage. This species is very dif ferent from all my new Sicilian species Phycis macronemus, Ph. fuscus, Ph. agrammus, Ph. mustea, &c. and is more a kin to the Ph. setosus (mihi, Blennius phycis, L.) which, however, differs by being cinereous having a crest over the nostrils, the first ray

of the first dorsal fin elongated, and the tail not marginated!

COD-FISH OF THE LAKES.-Gadus lacustris.-This is considered a very poor fish, and generally rejected by the persons who catch him. Others, however, say that his flesh is

excellent.

I state, on the authority of Henry A. S. Dearborn, Esq. the species now under consideration abounds in Sabago-pond. This is a large collection of fresh water, about twenty miles north-west of Portland, in the district of Maine. In it lives a fish exactly resembling the sea-cusk, common in the Boston market; and is taken there in great numbers at certain seasons of the year. They are represented as precisely of the shape and size of the cusk caught in the ocean adjacent to the coast of New England. In Maine this fish is not found in any of the lakes or ponds connected with rivers. Even if this was the case the sea-cusk is never known to ascend rivers and visit the reservoirs of fresh water.

Mr. Dewitt describes a fish which appears to me the same, as inhabiting Lake Cayuga: he belongs to the family of the Gadus, or Cod. There is a cirrhus or single beard to the chin. The body is plump and roundish, with great flexibility. The skin is smooth and scaleless, and marbled with yellow and brown, with here and there, occasionally, a dark spot; back darkish, belly white. A circle of yellow surrounds the pupil of the eye; two dorsal fins, of which the foremost is about midway of the back, small and triangular, the hindmost is long, ribband-like, and reaching almost to the tail. The anal fin begins just behind the vent, and extends nearly as far backward as the second dorsal. The vent is nearer the head by several inches. The caudal fin is handsomely rounded into a convex or projecting curve; the lateral line is a distinct furrow, winding along with a course gently inclined or bending up and down; the pectoral fins rounded; ventral fins situated on the neck, and tapering to a point; nostrils large. In front of the nostrils two other orifices, furnished with appendages concave, elongated, and pointed like ears; they resemble more exactly an external organ of hearing than I ever before saw in a fish. Upper jaw longest, and receiving the lower; both furnished with an abundance of minute sharp teeth. Mr. Le Sueur found him in Lake Erie, and has figured him in that finished style which distinguishes all the drawings in marine zoology done by that enterprising traveller.

The Gadus lota, called by the English the turbot or eel-pout, is a fresh water fish of this family, living in the rivers and lakes of Europe, and even of the East Indies. But as the body of the eel-pout is said to be compressed and covered with minute scales, his lateral line to be straight, and his head to have considerable resemblance to that of the frog, our lake-cod, or fresh-water cusk, must, until at least further inquiry shall be

made, be rated as a species not hitherto de

scribed.

III. THORACIC. PLEURONECTES.

APODAL SOLE. Pleuronectes apoda; with a body almost circular; with about twenty transverse black stripes; and with a single skinny appendage to the thorax instead of two ventral fins.

Length four inches exclusive of the caudal fin; breadth, including the dorsal and anal fins, about as much. Taken from the bottom of the ocean in the Straights of Bahama, with several other species, by David H. Fraser, Esq. surgeon in the United States navy

The eyes are situated to the right; and there are no pectoral fins. What is very peculiar is, there are no ventral fins, but, instead of them, there is a single skinny elongation from the lower side of the thorax, with the rudiments or semblance of five rays. Has a soft mucous skin, apparently without scales. The back is barred across by about twenty black stripes and as many pale ones, and each pale one is divided by a narrow brown stripe, giving the upper side the appearance of variegated black, pale, and brown crossbars. The lower side is muddy white; many soft caruncles or papillæ beneath, on both sides of the mouth.

Lateral line begins near the upper lip, near the origin of the dorsal fin, and, after forming a curve around the head and eyes, is continued almost in a straight line to the

middle of the tail.

ECHENEIS.

WHITE-TAILED REMORA.-Echeneis albacauda; with triangular white marks on the tail, and twenty-one bars across the shield; length twenty inches and a half; breadth almost three; girth nearly seven; weight twenty-one ounces.

Taken in the bay of New York, June 22, 1815.

This fish had twenty-one bars across the shield on the top of his head.

The dorsal fin was tipped with a white margin almost the whole of its length.

The caudal fin was yet white on it upper and lower sides, the white part slanting over the rays, and widening to half an inch and more at the extremity above and below. The middle portion of it, between the white triangles, almost black.

The eyes were brassy yellow; the lower jaw jutted very much beyond the upper; and though the point could not come in contact with it, was covered with minute teeth directed inwards.

The skin was scaleless; colour of the back dark, with a conversion to pale or dove toward and along the belly; throat and chin, with some variegations, whitish.

The remaining characters were much like those of the other species.

CORYPHÆNA.

RUDDER-FISH, OR PERCH CORYPHENA.Coryphana perciformis; with zig-zag impressions adown his sides; serrated gill

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