HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 55 



length of fish Is as 1 to 4, The scales on the body are large and quadrangular, less 

 than one third of scale attacned, marked by concentric lines upon their sides ; numer- 

 ous very delicate stride diverge from the centre of the attached base to the entire 

 extent of the free edge. Sixty-two scales along the lateral line ; ten scales in an 

 oblique line from the origin of the dorsal to the lateral line. The whole head is 

 covered with scales, including the intermaxillary bones, save the suborbitar bones and 

 the portion in front of and between the nostrils. The scales are largest on sides of 

 body ; smaller towards tail and on anterior back, smallest on top of head. The eyes 

 are circular, their diameter equal to about one third the distance between them. The 

 nostrils are situated anterior to eye, at a distance about equal to diameter of eye ; 

 the posterior is circular and the longer ; the anterior is larger. The lower jaw is the 

 longer. Teeth in jaws numerous and very small ; the largest are at the middle of 

 the upper jaw. Teeth upon the palatine bones. Tongue rough at its base and 

 upon its sides, smooth in its centre. The operculum at its posterior angle is armed 

 with two spinous processes, the lo-wer of which is the larger and more acute ; they are 

 margined with a dark-colored membrane. The prcoperciilum at its posterior edge is 

 very delicately and minutely serrated ; these serrations are larger at its inferior margin. 



The lateral line, which is very distinct, arises just above the superior spinous process 

 of the operculum, and is continued in a straight course through the middle of one 

 of the longitudinal bands, to the centre of the tail, upon the rays of which it is lost. 



The first dorsal fin arises on a line with the posterior half of the pectorals ; it is 

 twice as long as high ; the first ray is one sixth the height of the fourth and fifth, 

 which are the longest rays in the fin. 



The second dorsal is not as long as the first. The first ray is spinous ; the second 

 ray, which is the longest, is two thirds as high as the length of the fin. 



The pectorals are situated just beneath the inferior spine of the operculum ; their 

 length to their height is as 1 to 5. 



The ventrals are situated just back of the pectorals ; their first ray is spinous, and 

 three fifths as long as the second ray, which is the longest of the fin ; the rays are 

 multifid. They are of the same length as the pectorals. 



The anal arises on a line with the middle of the second dorsal ; its first three rays 

 are spinous ; the first of these is one fourth the height of the third. This fin is shorter 

 than the second dorsal ; it is one fifth longer than high. 



The caudal at its base is equal in depth to the length of the pectorals ; it is as wide 

 again at its extremity, when expanded, as its depth at base. Fin quite deeply forked. 



In each of the fins, the scales are more or less continued upon them. 



