10 FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



June and July, and carried to the New York market — and 

 adds, " it is perhaps the most delicious fish that is caught." 



The body of the specimen before me is elongated — com- 

 pressed — of a dark brown, almost black color above : — lighter 

 beneath. Color of head, sea or bronze green — scales large. 

 Length of fish, 1 foot : greatest depth 3 J inches. Length of 

 head to posterior angle of operculum, one third the length of the 

 fish : head between, and in front of eyes, smooth. Eyes one 

 half inch in diameter — less than the distance between eyes. 

 Nostrils double — just anterior to anterior superior angle of eye 

 — posterior, the larger. Jaws equal in length, armed with a 

 great number of minute sharp teeth. Lips fleshy. Whole 

 posterior edge of preoperculum, denticulated : — inferior edge 

 serrated — scales upon preopercle smaller than those upon body. 

 A small spine at posterior angle of operculum, below which is a 

 broad fleshy elongation projecting beyond it. Humeral bone 

 denticulated. The lateral line arises at the lower edge of the 

 humeral bone, and assumes the curve of the body. 



The Dorsal fin arises about a line back of the humeral bone 

 — its first ten rays are spinous, each having a fleshy tentaculum 

 suspended from its extremity. The first ray is shortest — the 

 third ray is longest. The eleven fleshy rays are higher than 

 the spinous ones : — the membrane of the whole fin is white, 

 crossed by dark bars. 



The Pectoral fins arise just below the fleshy projection of the 

 operculum — their length to their height is as 1 to 4. 



The Ventral fins are in front of pectorals — the middle rays are 

 longest: — the rays are nearly black, while the connecting 

 membrane is white. 



The Anal fin commences back of soft rays of dorsal : — the 

 first two rays are spinous. Fin higher than long, and barred 

 like the dorsal. 



The Caudal fin is slightly convex in its middle : — its length 

 equal to half its height : the connecting membrane of its rays 

 black, blotched with white. 



The fin rays are as follows: B. 7; D. 10, 11 ; P. 17 ; V. 

 6 j A. 2-9 ; C. 18. 



