﻿HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 333 



the head and back bluish. At the posterior angle of the operculum is a black blotch 

 of considerable size, which in some specimens is very indistinct until the scales are 

 removed, when it is obvious. Pupils black, irides silvery. The dorsal fin is transpar- 

 ent ; the tips of its rays are tinged with brown. The pectorals are silvery ; theii* 

 outer rays are fuliginous beneath. The ventrals are of the same color as the abdomen. 



Description. Body oblong, compressed. Covered throughout with large deciduous 

 scales, with the exception of the head, which is naked. Head equal in length to one 

 sixth of the entire fish ; the greatest depth of the body exceeds the length of the head. 

 The upper jaw is notched in its centre ; its lateral edges are slightly crenated. The 

 eyes are large ; the diameter of the eye is less than half the distance between the 

 eyes. The nostrils are nearer to the anterior angle of the eye than to the snout. The 

 abdominal ridge is serrated throughout, from the inferior angle of the operculum to 

 the anus ; the serrations are more prominent back of the ventrals. 



The quadrangular dorsal fin, which shuts into a groove, is situated on the anterior 

 half of the body ; the height of the first rays is equal to two thirds the length of the 

 fin. The first rays are simple ; the succeeding, multifid ; the fourth and fifth rays are 

 longest. 



The length of the pectorals is equal to about one third of their height ; all the rays 

 except the first, which is simple, are bifid. 



The triangular ventrals are situated opposite the middle of the dorsal fin. They 

 have at their base, on each side, a large accessory scale. 



The anal fin is low, emarginated above, and, like the dorsal, is partially received into 

 a groove Avhen not erected ; its fourth ray, which is highest, is less than one sixth the 

 length of the fin. 



The caudal fin is deeply forked ; at the base of each lobe is a patch of small scales. 

 At the base of this fin are two membranous appendages, one on each side of its centre. 



The fin rays are as follows : — D. 17 to 19. P. 16. V. 9. A. 20 to 22. C. 20. 



Length, twenty inches. 



Remarks. In my " Synopsis of the Fishes of North America," I adopted Wilson's 

 scientific name of this species. As, however, a name was merely proposed by him, and 

 no description given, I feel that to him belongs the honor who first presented an accu- 

 rate description at the same time that he considered it a new species. I therefore 

 accept Dr. Dekay's as more appropriate. 



In the spring of the year, this excellent fish is brought to Boston market from the 

 mouths of the neighboring rivers in considerable quantities, and meets with a ready 

 sale. At first they sell for fifty cents apiece ; as the season advances, for twenty-five 



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