336 NEW-YORK FAUNA. ; 
the phrase “ hérissé de poils.” I should not have cited the name and meagre notice of Mitchill, 
had I not been acquainted with the species which he intended to designate under the name of 
broccus. 
THE MASSACHUSETTS FILE-FISH. 
MonocaNTHUS MASSACHUSETENSIS, 
PLATE LVIL. FIG. 187. — (STATE COLLECTION.) 
M. massachusettensis, The Massachusetts File-fish. STORER, Fishes of Massachusetts, p. i74. 
Characteristics. Greenish brown, with obsolete abbreviated darker stripes. Margin of the 
dorsal fin sinuous. Length three and four inches. 
Description. Body elliptical, much compressed. Mouth prominent. Back sub-arcuated 
between the dorsal spine and the dorsal fin ; facial line slightly waving. Skin covered with 
small stellated plates, which are so disposed as to feel slightly rough only where the hand is 
moved towards the head. Eyes large, 0°3 in diameter. Branchial aperture oblique, linear, 
0-2 in length. Mouth with from six to eight teeth in each jaw, with cutting edges ; the ante- 
rior pair above and beneath somewhat pointed. Nostrils in advance of the eyes, and very 
near the profile. 
The spine representing the first dorsal fin over the posterior margin of the orbits, curved, 
and 0°7 long, with a short membrane at the base behind ; it has twelve white decurved teeth 
in a double series behind, and with smaller teeth irregularly distributed over its anterior and 
lateral parts. The dorsal fin with the first three rays are subequal, the succeeding four higher 
and longest, thence gradually descending to the posterior rays; the last two or three rays 
very short: the rays of all the fins simple. Pectorals feeble, with the fifth and sixth rays 
longest and subequal. At the place of the ventral, a stout pelvic spine, protruding exter- 
nally about two-tenths of an inch, with four white acute spicule projecting forwards, and 
smaller ones over its surface. The margin of the cuticular fold covered with sharp stellated 
spines. Anal agreeing in size, and nearly in shape, with the dorsal. ‘Tail elongated, linear, 
with a rounded fin; the sides of the rays with minute spines. 
Color. Dark olive-green, with a yellowish tint on the chin and throat. Anal and dorsal 
yellowish green. Caudal light olive-green. Pectorals light reddish. A faint bluish tint above 
the eyes, and between the spine and dorsal fin. Faint abbreviated dark oblong streaks along 
the sides. Irides dull golden; pupils black. 
Length, 3°8. Greatest depth, 2°0. 
Fin rays, D. 1.34; P. 15; V.0; A.30; C. 18. 
This small species, which is closely allied to the preceding, was first noticed by Dr. Storer. 
It is common in our waters, and is most numerous in the month of September. It ranges to 
the north of Cape Cod, 
