FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 89 



This quite common species in the ponds throughout the 

 State, is taken with the " Pomotis vulgaris ," " Perca flaves- 

 cens," '"'• Esox reticularis" and " Pimelodus nebulosns." It 

 has been described by Mitchell, who does not, however, men- 

 tion its general size, nor the proportion of its several parts 

 compared to each other. The following description is drawn 

 up from a living specimen of average size : Length of the fish, 

 from the tip of the snout to the extremity of the tail, six and a 

 half inches ; width across the body, on a line with the base of 

 the ventrals, two inches ; length of the head to the posterior 

 angle of the operculum, one inch and three lines. General 

 color, a beautiful golden; top of the head and back, black; 

 gill-covers a brighter yellow than the sides ; preoperculum less 

 brilliant than the operculum. Head above somewhat depressed ; 

 eyes, two and a half lines in diameter ; pupils black ; hides yel- 

 low ; jaws without teeth. The lateral line, consisting of about 

 fifty-six scales, commences just back of the superior angle of 

 the operculum, half an inch above the base of the pectoral fin, 

 and passing obliquely down over about eighteen scales, oppo- 

 site the posterior extremity of the pectoral fins, very gradually 

 passes up again towards the posterior extremity of the body, 

 assuming a straight course, which is pursued to the base of the 

 tail. 



The Dorsal fin is of a light brown color ; it commences 

 about three lines back of the ventral fins, is five lines wide at 

 the base, and partially shuts into a groove. 



The Pectoral fins commence on a line with the posterior 

 angle of the operculum ; they are an inch long ; yellowish, 

 except the upper rays, which are nearly black. 



The Ventrals are reddish. 



The Anal fin, which is slightly tinged with reddish, com- 

 mences on a line opposite the termination of the base of the 

 dorsal, and, like that fin, is received into a groove. 



The Caudal quite deeply forked ; of the same color as the 

 dorsal. 



The fin rays are as follows : D. 9 ; P. 17 ; V. 9 ; A. 13 ; 

 C. 19. 



12 



