﻿HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. . 315 



The anal iin is of the same form as the dorsal ; it commences just in front of that 

 fin, and is coterminal with it ; its anterior rays are longer than the corresponding ones 

 of the dorsal fin. 



The caudal fin is slightly emarginated. 



The fin rays are as follows: — D. 15. P. 12. V. 6. A. 19. C. 19. 



Length, one to two feet. 



Remarks. The only specimens I have seen of this species were sent to me by Dr. 

 Yale, from Holmes's Hole, where it is called " Gar-fish." 



Massachusetts, Storer. Connecticut, Linsley, Ayres. New York, Lesueur, 

 MiTCHiLL, Dekay. Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Lesueur. 



GENUS III. SCOMBERESOX, Cuv. 



Have the same structure of the jaws as the Belone ; and are similar, also, in the 

 form of the body and scales, with a keel-like edge to the belly ; but the posterior por- 

 tions of the dorsal and anal fins are divided, forming finlets, as in the Mackerel. 



Scomberesox Storeri, Deliai/. 



The Bill-fish. 



(Plate XXIV. Fig. 4.) 



Scomberesox equirostrum, Lesueuk, Joiirn. Acad. Nat. Sc, ii. p. 132. 

 Scombei-esox scutellatum, Lesueuk, Jouru. Acad. Nat. Sc, il. p. 132. 

 Scomberesox equirostrum, BiU-Jish, Stoker, Report, p. 100. 

 Scomberesox Storeri, Bill-fish, Dekat; Report, p. 299, pi. 35, fig. 111. 



" " Stobee, Mem. Amer. Acad., New Series, ii. p. 439. 



" " " Synopsis, p. 187. 



Le Scombr^soce cquirostre (Scomberesox equirostrum, Lesueur), Cuv. ct Val., sviii. p. 479. 



Color. The dorsum is of an olive-green color ; beneath this, a strongly-marked sil- 

 very band, half an inch wide, runs the whole length of the body, divided in its 

 centre by a narrow longitudinal line of the same color as the back ; the abdomen and 

 gill-covers are satiriy. The dorsal fin is greenish, as well as the finlets posterior to it. 

 A dark-green spot is situated at the base of the pectorals, above. After death, the 

 olive-green upon the back becomes a coppery green ; the sides lose their splendor, 

 and the fins their transparency. 



Description. Body elongated, compressed, gradually lessening in depth back of the 

 anus. Head, including the jaws, equal to one fourth the length of the body ; gill- 

 covers large, smooth; the lower jaw the longer; the jaws, at their origin, are armed 



