the Eyes,) 3; Cynanche Tonsillaris, (Inflammation of the Throat,) 3; Cynanche Trachealis, (Hives or Croup,) 1; Cynanche Parotidæa, (Mumps) 1; Catarrhus. (Catarrh,)7; Bronchitis, (Inflammation of the Bronchia.) 2; Pneumonia, (Inflammation of the_Chest,) 11; Pneumonia Typhodes, (Typhous Pneumorny,) 1; Rheumatismus, (Rheumatism) 3; Erysipelas, (St. Anthony's Fire) 1; Rubeola, (Meas les.) 2; Variola, (Small Pox,) 3; Vaccinia, (Kine Pock,) 120. CHRONIC AND LOCAL DISEASES. Asthenia, (Debility,) 2; Vertigo, 5; Cephalalgia, (Head-Ach,) 5; Dyspepsia, (Indigestion.) 8; Gastrodynia, (Pain in the Stomach,) 2; Enterodynia, (Pain in the Intestines,) 2; Colien, (Colic,) 2; Obstipatio, 8; Hysteria, (Hysterics) 3 Paralysis. (Palsy.) 1; Ophthalmia Chronica, (Chronic Inflammation of the Eyes,) 2; Catarrhus Chronicus, (Chronic Catarrh) 3; Bronchitis Chronica, 8; Asthma, 1; Phthisis Pulmonalis, (Pulmonary Consump tion.) 5; Rheumatismus Chronicus. (Chronic Rheumatism,) 9; Pleurodynia, 2; Lumbago, 2; Dysenteria Chronica, 2; Diarrhoea, 6; Dyslochia, 1; Amenorrhea, 2; Ischuria, (uppression of Urine,) 1; Nephralgia, 1; Hydar thrus, (White Swelling,) 2; Vermes, (Worms,) 3; Syphilis, 14; Urethritis Virulenta, 3; Tumor, 1; Contusio, (Bruise,) 1; Vulnus, (Wound) 2; Ustio, (Burn.) 2; Abscessus, (Abscess,) 2; Ulcus, (Ulcer,) 10; Urticaria, (Nettle Rash) 1; Erythema, 1; Scabies et Prurigo, 20; Porrigo, (Scald Head,) 3; Herpes, 1; Apthæ, 1; Eruptiones Variæ, 4. "An unusual absence of snow has characterized this month. The weather, with the exception of a few days, has been mild and pleasant. N. W. S. W. and N. E. winds have generally prevailed, and the last was for the most part accompanied by rain, the quantity of which during the month, amounted to nearly three inches. The Barometrical Range, according to the observations of C. Bogert, Esq." extended from 30. 06 to 30. 86. The highest temperature of the mornings has been 47°, lowest 100, mean 290 5-highest temperature of the afternoon 56°, lowest 120, mean 3407; highest temperature at 6 o'clock in the evenings 520, lowest 9°, mean 37:-greatest diurnal variation 14°. Average temperature of the month 33° 5. There has been a remarkable coincidence of the weather during this month, in this city, in Geneva, N. Y. and in Chilicothe, (Ohio.) The number of fair and cloudy or overcast days was the same, viz. 20 of the former, and 11 of the latter. Snow fell on the 3d at all the above mentioned places; and such cold as has not probably been *This gentleman has carefully attended to the atmospheric constitution of New-York for several years; and we are happy to add, intends to present his Meteorological Observations to the New-York Historical Society. Such observations are invaluable to future inquirers experienced in December for a number of years occurred on the 21st and 22d. In this city on the 21st, the mercury in Fahrenheit's thermometer ranged between 90 and 120 throughout the day, and in Chilicothe it was as low as Zero. The month of December has not been marked by an unusual predominence of any particular disease. Typhous fever, which has been so prevalent during the last three or four months, is gradually declining; whilst Catarrh, Pneumonia, and other diseases partaking of the inflammatory character are becoming more frequent. The Pneumonic infammations of this month were often marked by high excitement, and required large repeated bleedings, with strict adherence to the antiphlogistic plan. Great advantage was experienced from the administration of Tartrite of Antimony combined with Sulphate of Soda. The Small-Pox has not extended, owing, probably, to the increased diffusion of Kine-Pock inoculation. In some instances however, it has assumed a bigbly aggravated form, being of the confluent kind, and attended with delirium, high inflammatory fever, and distressing infarction of the lungs. Some cases, which fell under the observation of Dr. Townsend, were succeeded by deep foul ulcers in the mouth, and other parts emitting an intolerable fetor, by great debility, and extreme emaciation. In these, much advantage was experienced from the liberal employment of bark, wine, and mu riatic acid. Several instances might here be mentioned in which the efficacy of Vaccinia, as a preventive of Small-Pox, was indubitably manifested. A few cases of Rubeola have been observed. A case occurred in which the indiscreet use of chalk, as an antiacid during pregnancy, was followed by profuse diarrhea, sickness at the stomach, and violent pain in the left Iliac region:-and notwithstanding the most active treatment was resorted to, premature labour came on upon the third day. The mischief that may arise from the me chanical action of this extraneous insoluble substance is easy to be perceived, and instances are not wanting to prove the prejudicial effects of the babitual and too liberal use of chalk, and likewise of magnesia. The New-York Bill of Mortality for this month amounts to 195. Of this number, 36 deaths have occurred from Consumption; 11 from Typhous Fever; 1 from Scarlet Fever; 16 from Pneumonia; 6 from Hives; 2 from Measles; 10 from Small Pox. The entire Bill will be given in the next report. JACOB DYCKMAN, M. D. New-York, December 31, 1817. Several articles in type are unavoidably deferred till next month. MEMOIR ON ICHTHYOLOGY. Dr. Mitchill's Memoir on the Fishes of W HITE FISH OF THE LAKES.-Salmo Clupeaformis. This is celebrated as the most delicious of all the inhabitants of the lakes, growing to the size of two feet and more in length, by six or seven inches in depth, and weighing from four to six pounds and upwards: the male fish not so deep as the female. For a good specimen of this fish I own with pleasure my obligation to Col. Samuel Hawkins, agent to the commissioners on the part of the United States, for settling boundaries with the British government; who, with an enterprise worthy of his enlarged mind, brought it from the falls of St. Mary, at the northern extremity of Lake Huron. I make a similar acknowledgment to Simeon De Witt, Esq. surveyor-general of NewYork, who, influenced by a similar spirit, furnished me with a correct sketch, done by his own hand, from the natural subject caught near Ithica, in the Cayuga Lake. And for a finished delineation, I take the present opportunity of expressing my sense of the taste and liberality of Hamilton Smith, Esq. From these sources I have been enabled to gather the particulars of the present history? The mouth is wholly destitute of teeth: they can no more be seen or felt than in the herring. There are two dorsal fins, the foremost of which is radiated, and the hindmost rayless and adipose. The character in other respects, exactly resembles that of the SALMO. It was a part of the Linnæan definition of this genus, that "there are teeth in both jaws and on the tongue." Consequently the white fish, though so nearly allied, could not, according to that rule, be considered a member of the family. Nor could he with propriety be placed in any other of the genera in that system. He must therefore have constituted a VOL. II.-No. v. 41 new genus; although in common conversation he may well enough be denominated the shad-salmon of North-America. He inhabits the lakes of New-York. In his general form and colour he is more like a shad than any other fish. The flesh is pale, and not of the high yellow or orange of the common salmon. The head is small and scaleless; the belly, especially of the gravid female, swells and swags; the scales are bright, large, stout and adherent. The tail is broad and forked; the lateral line straight; and there is something very peculiar about the lips and in the opening and shutting of the mouth. Colour of the roe or spawn, a bright light yellow, inclining to orange, like the highest colour of anatto, and somewhat larger than those of the shad. In October, they appear as mature as those of the shad in April. The contents of the stomach are of a dark sap green, as if the food had been grass. It would have been necessary to have invented a new name for him, had not that been rendered superfluous by the amendment which the incomparable Dr. Bloch has made to the generic character of the salmo. It now means merely the abdo"bodies covered with minal fishes that have scales, and an adipose fin upon the back." The toothless salmon of Surinam is already included within this improved definition. Yet from Governor Frederici's account, I am inclined to think our white fish, of New-York, is a dif ferent species. BONY-SCALED PIKE.--ESOX Osseus; with rostrated jaws filled with acuminated teeth of different sizes; the upper mandible widened at the extremity, and perforated by two holes quite through, and by two more resembling nostrils; with hard rhomboidal scales disposed in oblique rows. The length of the specimen before me is three feet and four inches. The body cylindrically roundish like other species of the genus. The girth increases to the region of the ventral fins, and thence tapers away toward the tail. Was taken in the Oneida Lake. Is a stout, heavy, and formidable fish. The head is rather small and very bony, tapering away to a pair of forcipated jaws, that are nine or ten inches long. Their gape is exceedingly wide. They are armed with teeth disposed as thick as they can stand These may be divided into three sets or classes; the largest about a quarter of an inch long, and very sharp pointed; the next less than half that size, and filling up the spaces of from an eighth to a quarter of an inch between the former; and the third, yet smaller and fine, overspreading almost the whole inner surface of the jaws. They are all remarkably white. The upper jaw is longer than the lower, and is expanded like the blade of a forceps. Beneath the thickened extremity there are two strong teeth pointing downward and inward. Near the extremity of this mandible are two ample orifices which appear to be nostrils; and just behind them two complete perforations like pin-holes. The extremity of the lower jaw is more abrupt and square than the upper, and shuts within it. The distance from the end of the upper jaw to the eye is about ten inches, and from the same point to the posterior edge of the gill membrane fourteen inches; making rather more of snout and head than a third of the length of the fish. The posterior gill-plate is radiated in various directions. The skull forms a flattish arch of bone, and is connected by sutures all round to the adjoining parts. The distance along the broad and rounded back, from the occipital part of thi suture, to the commencement of the dorsal fin is about twenty inches The scales are hard and bony, and formed somewhat like a rhomboid. There is no proper ridge or elevation on the top of the back; but by examination, a row of rhombic scales can be traced from the occiput to the dorsal fin, and thence to the tail. From each of these dorsal scales proceeds a row of other scales proceeding downward and backward at an angle of about forty-five degrees, and incrusting and enwrapping the whole body. The ventral fins are situated seven inches behind the posterior edge of the gill cover, that is, twenty-one from the end of the bill. So that they are almost equally distant from the two extremities of the body. They are composed of six coarse and double rays. The anal and dorsal fins are far back on the body, and almost opposite; though the anal is rather more forward than the dorsal. The number of rays in each is seven or eight; and the first ray of the dorsal fin gives rise on its upper and anterior margin to a double row of ten or a dozen smaller rays, growing obliquely out of it. The tail is stout even to the commencement of the caudal rays. These are remarkably strong aud stiff. They are twelve in number, and are nearly even at their extremities. From the upper side of the uppermost caudal ray, and the lower side of the lowermost, al! along to their extremities, grow rows of smaller rays slanting backward. (Trowbridge's Museum.) MACKAREL-PIKE.-Esox Scomberius; an inhabitant of the fresh streams of New-York. A figure of this fish was forwarded to me by John Bradbury, Esq. It was executed from the creature as taken from Murderer's Creek Besides other strong features of the pike, it was distinguished for a large and projecting lower jaw; for the length of the bead and gill-covers; for the dark green of the back gradually disappearing in the white of the belly, and the two hues connected by cloudy patches almost resembling bands, slanting forward and downward from the back; by a ruddy tinge of the large and roundish pectoral abdominal and ventral fins; and by a broad concave or lunated tail. Mr. B. states the rays of the pectoral fins to be thirteen, of the ventral nine, of the dorsal fourteen, of the anal thirteen, and of the caudal twenty. LONG-JAWED FRESH WATER PIKE.-Esox Longirostris; with round body, long sharptoothed jaws, and dorsal and anal fins very far toward the tail. Found in the waters of the Hudson, near Albany. Length of the specimen now before me, about twenty inches; and girth almost three and an half. The body cylindrically round, and tapering very gradually toward the tail. The distance from the extremity of the bill to the eye four inches, and from the same point to the posterior edge of the gill-membrane six inches, making the head and jaws nearly equal to one third of the length. The teeth are sharp and distinct, very much like those of the marine bill-fish, or esox belone; and they, with their elongated jaws, have a resemblance to the bill of the sheldrake, (mergus merganser.) The gape is very wide. The distance from the gill opening to the ventral fins is six inches, and to the dorsal ten. A carinated line runs low along the belly, and rises over the insertion of the ventral fin. There is a seam or ridge along the middle of the back from the rear of the head to the commencement of the dorsal fin. This is of a darker colour than the rest. A little below it is the lateral line, in the form of oblique and interrupted dashes, that become faint and even vanish in their progress backward before they reach the dorsal fin. Back greenish, with some variegations; beily white, with a tinge of yellowish; scales small and adhering tenaciously to the skin. Is said to grow to the length of from three to four feet; and is always an inhabitant of fresh water. (Trowbridge's Museum.) SILURUS. LONG-TAILED CATFISH-Silurus gyrinus, Catfish, without a second dorsal fin, and with a lengthened tail resembling that of the full grown tadpole. Brought by Dr. B. A. Akerly from the Wallkil! where the species is namerous, and on individual seldom equals the length of four inches. His general figure is that of a broad head, horizontally extended; of a thin tail perpendicularly fattened; and of a belly giving hins a roundish appearance toward the middle of the body. There are four cirrhi beneath the chin, two to the upper jaw, and two larger ones at the corners of the mouth. The gape is wide; mouth large; lips fortified with a row of small teeth; tongue broad and distinct. There is but a single dorsal fin, and that consists of seven rays, of which the first is spinous. About an inch behind it commences the caudal fin, which is continued quite round the tail, and almost to the anal fin. The form is lanceolate and pointed; and the rays are so flexible and delicate, that in the specimen now before me, the caudal fin puts me in mind of a brush. It may be compared to the tail of the eel; the resemblance is nearer to that of a tadpole, when it approaches the period of conversion to a frog. The vent is nearly midway of the body. The anal fin, consisting of about sixteen rays, is situated between it and the caudal; for though the caudal is continued almost to it, there is no union The pectoral fins have seven rays, of which the foremost is spinous. The spines of the several fins, though sharp, are not serrated. I could not discover any jagged or barbed configuration whatever in either of them. The abdominal fins are small, approximated, and almost as far back as the vent. The lateral line, after passing the thoracic parts, passes along to the middle of the tail, having the appearance of a dark stripe. The tail exhibits other faint marks of lines or stripes, while the trunk and head have a sort of clouded or mottled appearance. The belly is whitish or cream-coloured. The want of serræ to the spines, and of a second dorsal fin, might lead some to remove this fish from the Silure family; but to avoid needless innovation, I retain him here. CLUPEA, OR HERRING. THE HERRING OF COMMERCE.-Clupea Herengus; with a rough tongue, jutting lower jaw, bluish back and anal fin with seventeen rays. In March, 1817, some fish were exhibited for sale in the New-York market, under the name of the true European herring. They were reported to have been catched near Stonington, and to have followed the English squadron thither in the attack upon that place during the year 1814. They had been preserved uninjured in brine, and were unlike any herrings that had ever been taken there before. I procured a parcel of these fishes. Their bellies were not serrated. They were from ten to thirteen inches long. Their backs were bluish; tongues rough; edges of the cheekplates or lips sensibly serrated; tails deeply forked; the dorsal fin behind the centre of gravity, so that when the fish was suspended by it the head was depressed; and seventeen rays to the anal fin. There was thus an agreement in so many important particulars, that according to all the rules of judging, this fish possessed the characters that have been supposed to discriminate the Clupea harengus from all the other species. An intelligent gentleman from Scotland, to whom I showed several of this fish, said they resembled the Loch-Fine herring. That I might form a better opinion, I procured some herrings said to have been pickled at the Isle of Skye. The herrings from the Hebrides appeared to be shorter and deeper, and to retain their scales more firmly. For the Stonington herrings had lost the greater part of theirs. On eating them, I thought the Scotch more savoury than ours; though this might be owing to the quality of the salt and the manner of preparing them. As far as I can learn the Clupea harengus is a species that contains many varieties. A good description of them, with the localities and peculiarities of each, will have a favourable tendency towards the extrication of this subject from the difficulties with which it is entangled. NEW-YORK FLYING FISH.-Exocœtus noveboracensis, with toothless mouth, belly whitish and carinated on each side, squarish body, very long ventral fins, and dark green back. The specimen under consideration is about 12 inches long, 14 deep, and 4 in girth. Was taken in a seine near New-York. The aspect is somewhat like that of a herring, but squarish; belly white and silvery; back dark and greenish; scales thick and deciduous. The pectoral fins are five and an half inches in length, and consist of fifteen branching rays. The ventrals have six rays, and are situated further back than the middle of the belly. They are capable of spreading wide, and are three inches long. A carinated edge passes just above them on its way from the lower part of the gill opening toward the tail. The belly is flattish and broad; the dorsal fin is very far back, and has fourteen rays; the anal has eight; both are small. The branchial membrane has nine or ten rays. The tail is forked, and the lower section is almost twice as long as the upper. The eyes are large, vertical, and of a silvery yellow. The head is smooth and triangular or wedge shaped, both forward and downward. Between the eyes there is a moderate depression, and three small holes on each side of it. There are also small channelled lines lengthwise along the back. SIX RAYED POLYNEME.-Polynemus sex radiatus, with a huge head, whose rough cover runs back about one third of the length of the body, and terminates in two strong spines, and whose bony gill-covers end in two more stout bony processes, and with skin beset by rows of prickly scales. The specimen I now have was brought from some place to me unknown, in tolerable preservation. Not being satisfied that it has been discovered before, I undertake to give some account of it. The length of the body is nineteen inches. The breadth across the head, in the widest part is three. From the head backwards the body is slender and tapering. The head is covered by a bony plate like shagreen, which extends as a shield more than six inches backwards, ending in a pair of thorny processes. The bony-gill covers also terminate in two strong processes, one on each side. The skin of the back and sides is furnished with about a dozen rows of distinct scales aculeated backward. They are disposed longitudinally in parallel courses, and one of them, the nearest but one or two to the belly, has more prominent scales and prickles than the rest, and seems to be the lateral line. The throat and belly are smooth. The colour of the helmet or head-plate is light brown, interspersed with large roundish and dusky spots: that of the back and sides is more dark, with whitish spots, especially of the scales. The throat and belly are whitish or cream-coloured. There are two dorsal fins. The foremost consists of four rays that settle into a groove. Immediately in front of the first ray is a double ray, resembling a pair of long horns, which might almost be reckoned as a distinct fin. The hindmost is composed of seven rays supported on the convex back. Directly in front of the first ray is a stiff spiny stump. The pectoral fins are about seven inches in length where the rays are longest. They are also broad and expanded, and contain twenty-three rays. These rays have a wide space of web or membrane between them, as is the case in all the other fins of this fish. Both the head and fins have a great resemblance to the gurnards. and to the scales over the sides; and with small spinous processes along the lower jaw, and over the upper jaw, cheeks and crown. Called by some, rough headed dace. Length about four or five inches; depth nearly one; head rather blunt; tail deeply forked; body stout for a fish of his size. Lives in the streams and brooks of fresh water in West Chester County. The present description from nature was made May 31, 1816. He is an elegant little animal, having brown and whitish stripes lengthwise along his back; and a fine scarlet hue over the sides and belly: but particularly bright at the extremities and edges of all the fins. The lateral line crooks downwards, in the form of a seam obliquely dotted. The sides have a dark lunated mark, curved toward the head, directly opposite to the convexity of the scales, which, according to the common structure of fish, project toward the tail. The nose is rather blunt, and beset with roundish little cartilaginous masses armed in their centre with short bony spines. These are seated in the skin, and when removed leave behind them small holes resembling scars. They extend over the cheeks, the head and the sides of the lower jaw; so that he is properly called rough bead. The nostrils are large and distinct, and the eyes lateral. The branchial membrane has three rays. In the pectoral fins there are fifteen rays, in the dorsal nine, in the ventral eight, in the anal nine, and the caudal twenty-three. CORPORAL-Cyprinus Corporalis. This fish is called by the Dutch, Corporalen, or Corporal; and inhabits the Hudson in the neighbourhood of Albany, the Wallkill through its whole extent, and the western streams and lakes, from Woodcreek to the Oneida Lake, and so on. The length of a middle sized individual is about thirteen inchand the girth five: though he frequently grows larger. Almost from the same origin with the pectoral fins, and directly in front of them arise two distinct finny and radiated appendages, one on each side. They are nearly three inches, es long, and possess each of them six rays. The pectorals and appendages on the side next the body are dark, with whitish spots and variegations. On the other side also dark, except near the base, and along many of the rays, where the colour is whitish. The upper lip is distinct from the bony head-case. Both that and the lower are furnished with a set of small, but compact and regular teeth. The mouth is of but moderate size. The branchial membrane has four rays; the ventral fins four, and the anal six. The caudal fin has seventeen rays: and is armed on each side by two oblique bony scales or processes with knife like edges, and extending along and across the rays for full three quarters of an inch. The eyes are large and vertically situated with prominent overhanging orbits. The tail is forked, and on and near it the scales become more large, prominent, and prickly. CYPRINUS. RED FIN, OR ROUGH-HEAD-Cyprinus cornutus: with ruddy tips to the fins and tail, The head is smooth, roundish, thick, and without scales. The body is thickly covered with scales; on the back, more especially be tween the head and the dorsal fin, the hue is dusky; on the belly it is uniformly white, and on the sides, the forepart of each scale is covered with a blackish film or pigment. Mouth toothless, and of a moderate gape. Tongue distinct, but not free. Gill-covers smooth. The tail is forked. The lateral line bends downward, and ends in the middle of the tail. The dorsal fin is near the middle of the back, and consists of seven rays; the caudal fin is composed of nineteen rays or thereabout. The anal has seven; the ventral seven; the pectorals have thirteen; the branchio stegous membrane has three rays; the dorsal and caudal fins are tipped with a blackish tinge. Takes the hook, if baited with dough, when let down through holes in the ice, at midwinter, in the Hudson at Albany; flesh eatable, but rather soft and coarse. MUD-FISH.-Cyprinus atromaculatus, so |