w 



them out as distinct species. In Yarrell's figure of the L. Mor- 

 risii, the length of the fish is 3^ inches, while the head is ^ of 

 an inch long, or j^^ the whole length, and the greatest depth of 

 the body is nearly ^ of an inch, or j\ its length. In our species, 

 the entire length of the head is -^\ its whole length, and the depth 

 of the body is also about j\ of its whole length. 



Dr. Storer stated that of the American genus Prionotus, 

 Cuvier and Valenciennes had described four species, of 

 which three had been already noticed in the waters of Mas- 

 sachusetts. He had not expected to be able to include the 

 fourth, P, punctatus, among our fishes, as it was supposed 

 to be exclusively a southern species. He had, however, 

 recently obtained it, and could now assert that all the 

 known species are found in the waters of our State. He 

 had also recently obtained an undescribed species, of which 

 he gave the following description : 



Prionotus pileatus. Color, above reddish brown, beneath yel- 

 lowish white. The first dorsal fin is crossed by two oblique white 

 lines, with a black blotch upon the connecting membrane, between 

 the fourth and fifth rays, above the upper oblique line. The 

 entire head is roughened by raised strisD. The lateral projections 

 of the snout are prominent, and margined with very strong crenu- 

 lations. Two distinct spines at the anterior superior angle of the 

 eye. Opercular spine of moderate size, not elevated at its base 

 above the opercular plate. Preopercular spine large, naked at 

 its posterior extremit}'-, raised and crenulated along its whole outer 

 edge. Length of the head equal to ^ of the length of the body. 

 Length of the pectoral fins equal to nearly -^ the length of the 

 head. The caudal fin is quite deeply emarginated, the outer 

 rays projecting. 



D. 10, 13 ; P. 13 ; V. 6 ; A. 12 ; C. 12|. Length 12^ inches. 



Massachusetts Bay. 



This species diflJers from the other species of this genus, in the 

 following particulars, viz. : 



From the P. lineatus, in the greater prominence of the sides of 

 the snout, and in the larger size of their crenulations ; in the 

 striations of the head being more delicate ; in having two welt 



