the Fishes of Massachusetts. 177 



is a striking peculiarity in our fish. I introduce the follow- 

 ing description as of a species new to our Fauna. Should 

 it not prove to be the P. appendix, 1 would propose the name 

 of rubri-cauda, from a very characteristic mark it presents, a 

 blood-red colored tail. 



PoMOTis RUBRi-CAUDA. The rcd-tailcd Pomotis. 



Length of the fish five inches : the length of the head to the 

 outer angle of the operculum one inch and a half ; the depth of 

 the body across the base of the pectoral fins two inches. The 

 general color of the fish is a rusty brown, more strongly marked 

 above the middle of the body, which is caused by ferrugi- 

 nous spots being densely distributed along the scales ; these 

 spots are more sparse and more distinct below the lateral line ; 

 the body, upon the sides, is golden ; and beneath, in front of 

 the anal fin, of a blood-red color. The head, between and in 

 front of the eyes, is naked. A blueish white undulating line 

 runs from the upper jaw, just beneath the eye, across the 

 operculum and beneath the opercular membrane, to its poste- 

 rior extremity ; a second line of a similar character arises just 

 above this, and, interrupted by the eye, again commences back 

 of it, and passes over the opercular membrane — so that the 

 membranous appendage of the operculum, which is of a deep 

 uniform black color, three lines in length, and one line deep, 

 is included between these lines. Beneath the undulating 

 Hues just spoken of, are blueish-white blotches irregularly 

 distributed upon the preoperculum, some of them passing 

 downwards towards its lower edge. The eyes are three lines 

 in diameter — the pupils are black, the irides red. The lateral 

 line commences just above, and in front of the base of the 

 opercular membrane, and assumes the arch of the body. 



The dorsal fin, anteriorly, is of a dark brown color, its pos- 

 terior portion is red, the spinous portion is not quite as high 

 as the soft rays. The ventral fins are red at their base, and 

 terminate in black extremities. The pectoral fins are of a yel- 

 lowish brown color. The anal fin is yellowish at its base, 

 and fuliginous at its margin. The caudal fin is of a blood- 

 red color when the fish is alive. 



23 



