336 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



the phrase " herisse de poils." I should not have cited the name and meagre notice of Mitchill, 

 had I not been acquainted with the species which he intended to designate under the name of 

 broccus. 



THE MASSACHUSETTS FILE-FISH. 



MoNOCANTHUS MASSACHUSETENSIS. 

 PLATE LVII. FIG. 187. — (STATE COLLECTION.) 

 M. massachitsettensis, The Massachusetts File-fish. Stoker, Fishes of Massachusetts, p. 174. 



Characteristics. Greenish brown, with obsolete abbreviated darker stripes. Margin of the 

 dorsal fin sinuous. Length three and four inches. 



Description. Body elliptical, much compressed. Mouth prominent. Back sub-arcuated 

 between the dorsal spine and the dorsal fin ; facial line slightly waving. Skin covered with 

 small stellated plates, which are so disposed as to feel slightly rough only where the hand is 

 moved towards the head. Eyes large, - 3 in diameter. Branchial aperture oblique, linear, 

 0*2 in length. Mouth with from six to eight teeth in each jaw, with cutting edges ; the ante- 

 rior pair above and beneath somewhat pointed. Nostrils in advance of the eyes, and very 

 near the profile. 



The spine representing the first dorsal fin over the posterior margin of the orbits, curved, 

 and ' 7 long, with a short membrane at the base behind ; it has twelve white decurved teeth 

 in a double series behind, and with smaller teeth irregularly distributed over its anterior and 

 lateral parts. The dorsal fin with the first three rays are subequal, the succeeding four higher 

 and longest, thence gradually descending to the posterior rays ; the last two or three rays 

 very short : the rays of all the fins simple. Pectorals feeble, with the fifth and sixth rays 

 longest and subequal. At the place of the ventral, a stout pelvic spine, protruding exter- 

 nally about two-tenths of an inch, with four white acute spiculas projecting forwards, and 

 smaller ones over its surface. The margin of the cuticular fold covered with sharp stellated 

 spines. Anal agreeing in size, and nearly in shape, with the dorsal. Tail elongated, linear, 

 with a rounded fin ; the sides of the rays with minute spines. 



Color. Dark olive-green, with a yellowish tint on the chin and throat. Anal and dorsal 

 yellowish green. Caudal light olive-green. Pectorals light reddish. A faint bluish tint above 

 the eyes, and between the spine and dorsal fin. Faint abbreviated dark oblong streaks along 

 the sides. Irides dull golden ; pupils black. 



Length, 3 - 8. Greatest depth, 2*0. 



Fin rays, D. 1.34; P. 15; V. ; A. 30; C. 13. 



This small species, which is closely allied to the preceding, was first noticed by Dr. Storer. 

 It is common in our waters, and is most numerous in the month of September. It ranges to 

 the north of Cape Cod. 



