50 FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



t 



two fine specimens of this fish ; one, nineteen inches long, was 

 sent me by Dr. Yale, from Holmes Hole. He informs me, 

 that for the last six or eight years, this species has been fre- 

 quently met with at the Vineyard, and is readily taken with 

 trailing bait. The second specimen I have seen, measured 

 twenty-one inches in length. It is at once distinguished from 

 any other of the family in our waters, by its ash-colored abdo- 

 men ; dull greenish back, and oblique and transverse dark 

 bands. 



From the latter specimen, I draw up the following descrip- 

 tion : color of head and upper part of body, a greenish brown : 

 sides, lighter ; abdomen, silvery white. Body smooth ; a broad 

 oblique patch of minute scales is observed just above the pec- 

 toral fins, commencing at posterior extremity, and widening 

 towards occiput : minute scales situated along the sides of dor- 

 sal ridge, looking like small papillae longitudinally arrayed. 

 Ten or twelve dark colored bands pass obliquely downwards 

 and forwards from the dorsum towards abdomen : the first of 

 these bands commence at the posterior extremity of the dorsal 

 fin ; the last, at the origin of the caudal fin. Some of these 

 bands pass very low down upon sides, even to abdomen. Be- 

 sides these, several indistinct lighter colored bands cross the 

 body transversely. Lateral line arises high up on the back, 

 and pursues a pretty undulatory course, until about on a line 

 with anal, from whence it goes straight to caudal fin. Length 

 of head, four inches and three quarters : top of head, dark 

 greenish brown : gill-covers silvery, marked with fuliginous. 

 Gape of mouth large. Tip of upper jaw scarcely projecting 

 beyond the lower : jaws and palatine bones with a single row 

 each of sharp, recurved, prominent teeth : upon the middle of 

 lower jaw are four teeth ; the anterior two quite small, the pos- 

 terior the largest in the jaws : the palatine bones are very 

 small. Diameter of eye equal to one third the distance be- 

 tween eyes : pupils black ; irides, silvery. 



The first Dorsal fin commences on a line just back of pos- 

 terior angle of operculum ; its second ray is highest ; color of 



