194 FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



suspended from above. Distance between the eyes, nearly one 

 fourth the length of the head. A slight depression on the top 

 of the head extending a considerable distance forwards towards 

 the snout. Top of the snout covered with small flexible 

 spines : extremity of the snout, naked. Anterior portion of 

 the body tapering from the lateral angle of the pectorals to 

 nearly a point at the snout ; snout slightly blunted. Width of 

 the head, across the humeral orifices, thirteen inches ; width 

 directly in front of the eyes, ten inches ; across the top of the 

 snout, one inch. Humeral orifices directly back of the eyes ; 

 and in their transverse diameter equal to the length of the eye. 

 The ventrals lighter colored than the rest of the body ; the 

 rays digitated at the extremities. The dorsal .fins equal in 

 length ; the anterior a little higher than the posterior ; both 

 rounded ; separated about half an inch ; the posterior termi- 

 nates within an inch of the extremity of the tail, by a mem- 

 branous prolongation, which is more elevated at the posterior 

 extremity. All the under portion of the body, of a dingy 

 white color, perfectly smooth, with the exception of a very few 

 spines hardly perceptible except by the touch, on each side of 

 the commencement of the caudal fins, and a small patch of 

 equally minute spines upon the middle of the tail, just in front 

 of the termination of the ventral fins. Mucous pores are scat- 

 tered over the greater portion of the under surface, appearing 

 like black dots, in most instances distributed in a regular man- 

 ner, although a longitudinal line of them is seen towards the 

 middle of the pectorals, and another transverse one at the base 

 of the ventrals. Gape of the mouth, large. Jaws composed 

 of compact, hexaedral teeth, forming almost a plane surface, 

 the inner angle of the innermost middle ones beginning to be- 

 come acute. Nostrils, a short distance in front of the mouth ; 

 this distance is equal to half the length of the mouth. Five 

 branchial apertures, situated obliquely ; the anterior largest, 

 the posterior much the smallest. Pectoral rays, very obvious 

 beneath. Anal opening, oblong. 



A male specimen lying before me, 54 inches long and 36 

 inches wide, kindly sent me from New Bedford, by Wm. H. 





