158 HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



Serbia zonata, Dekay, Keport, p. 128, pi. 9, fig. 26. 

 " " Stoker, Mem. Amcr. Acad., New Series, ii. p. 357. 



" " " Synopsis, p. 105. 



Color. Of a silvery-brown color ; lighter upon the sides, with a yellowish tint, which 

 is also observable upon the opercula and along the lower jaw. Five well-marked dark- 

 brown transverse bands, upon the sides, passing from the dorsum to the abdomen, are 

 continued upon the dorsal fin. 



The first dorsal fin is black. The second dorsal fin has a yellowish tinge ; its first rays 

 are tipped with white. The ventrals are fuliginous beneath, with their extremities yel- 

 lowish-white. The centre of the anal fin is of a greenish brown ; its base and tips are 

 white. The caudal fin is yellowish-green, with a dusky tinge at its base and posterior 

 portion ; its extremity is white. 



Description. Body elongated, compressed, with very minute scales. Its greatest 

 depth is more than the length of its head. The length of the head is less than one third 

 the length of the body ; the top of the head and the opercula are destitute of scales. 

 The eyes are circular, and of moderate size. The nostrils are double, oval, just anterior 

 to the edge of the superior orbitar bone. The gape of the mouth is large ; the jaws are 

 armed with several rows of minute card-like teeth. The tongue, pharnyx, palatine, and 

 vomer roughened by slight asperities. 



The lateral line, which is a mere thread, commences at the superior angle of the oper- 

 culum, and slants downwards in an undulatory manner to about opposite the middle of 

 the second dorsal fin, whence it pursues a straight course to the tail, being elevated into 

 a ridge upon its fleshy portion, forming a well-marked carina. 



Just in front of the dorsal fin is a small distinct truncated spine, pointing forwards. 



The first dorsal fin, which is composed of seven spinous rays, is quite small and trian- 

 gular ; it arises just back of the pectorals, and is united by a prolongation of its connect- 

 ing membrane to the base of the first ray of the second dorsal fin ; its third and fourth 

 rays are highest ; the first ray and last two rays are very short. 



The second dorsal fin arises opposite the extremity of the ventrals, and is continued 

 until within a short distance of the tail ; it is high at its origin, diminishes in height until 

 about the fourteenth or fifteenth ray, and the remainder of the rays are about the same 

 height ; the rays are bifid at their extremities, all of which slightly project above the con- 

 necting membrane. 



The pectoral fins are subtriangular, and are situated directly beneath the posterior 

 angle of the operculum. 



The ventral fins are just beneath the origin of the pectorals, and are composed of five 

 strong multifid rays. 



