FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 199 



closed, embrace and conceal the lower lip which is very short ; 

 the nostrils are small, and placed in the centre of a white oval, 

 pellucid disk, easily moveable ; on the inside of the upper lip, 

 there are small granules, and at the opening of the throat small 

 ramified papillae ; the branchial apertures are placed in a lon- 

 gitudinal depression, oblique and a little curved, the first aper- 

 ture is above the angle of the mouth ; on each side of the 

 head there is a whitish spot, which should seem to indicate 

 the position of the eyes, that this species is deficient of, in com- 

 mon with the " P. ruber"* of Europe. The annular or ribbed 

 appearance of the sides of this fish is owing to the muscles, 

 which are endued with great strength, in order to enable it to 

 burrow in the muddy sands of rivers, where it penetrates in a 

 serpentine manner, by means of its snout, the large lip of 

 which performs the functions of a terrier. The European 

 species is generally taken, when the small rivers are cleansed 

 of the superabundant sand and mud which obstruct their 

 channels. This last is much sought after for food ; but the 

 American species is commonly rejected, as is almost every 

 animal that either has a real or fancied resemblance to a snake. 

 This fish is used for bait." 



Besides the species above described, several others are known 

 to be found in our waters, but they have not been described, 

 and I have not met with them myself. I shall but cursorily 

 notice them. 



A second species of " Pomotis" — Pond perch, is occasion- 

 ally taken in the neighboring ponds, with the " vulgaris." 



Another species of u Esox" — Pike, is taken with the " re- 

 ticulatus," it differs from that fish, in being transversely barred. 

 It is rarely brought to our market. My friend, Dr. Holbrook, 

 of Charleston, a very accurate naturalist, tells me he has 

 frequently caught it at Wrentham. 



* " Lampetra caeca ; Willughby, p. 107, c. 3, fig. 1. Pet. rouge; La Cepede, tome ii. 

 page 100." 



