258 HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



Description. Body very much elongated and compressed. Length of head about 

 one tenth the length of the body ; convex upon its posterior portion ; blunted ante- 

 riorly ; compressed upon sides. Gape of mouth moderate ; upper jaw the longer ; a 

 single row of minute teeth in each jaw. Lips fleshy. Nostrils tubular, directly in 

 front of eye. Greatest depth of body about one twentieth its length. Eyes obliquely 

 oblong ; their longest diameter equal to one sixth the length of the head. 



The first dorsal fin commences on a line above the pectorals, and is continued to the 

 second dorsal, to which it is connected by a membrane, and terminates anterior to the 

 middle of the fish. Its anterior three spines are the shortest. Posterior to the fifth 

 ray, the fin is of a uniform height throughout, with the exception of the two last 

 rays, which are shorter. 



The second dorsal, which is of nearly a uniform height throughout, terminates at 

 the fleshy portion of the tail. 



The pectorals, when closed, are lanceolate ; rounded when expanded. The rays are 

 branched and free at their tips. 



The ventrals are situated beneath and in front of the pectorals. The inner ray the 

 longer. 



The anal commences on the anterior third of the body, and tenninates on a line with 

 the second dorsal. 



The caudal is rounded. 



The fln rays are as follows : — D. 37 - 50. P. 13. V. 2. A. 66. C. 22. 



Length of specimen, sixteen inches. 



Remarks. The preceding description is drawn up from the only specimen of this 

 fish that I have ever seen. It was brought me by Captain Nathaniel E. Atwood, 

 who took it from the stomach of a cod-fish in Massachusetts Bay, early in April, 1848. 



GENUS II. PHOLIS, Fleming. 

 Neither cirrhi nor fieshy crests upon the orbits. 



Pholis subbifurcatus, Storer. 

 The Radiated Shanny. 



Pholis subbifurcatus, Subbifurcated Pholis, Stoeer, Report, p. 63. 

 " " Radiated Shanny, Dekat, Report, p. 150. 



" " SiOEER, Mem. Amer. Acad., New Series, ii.[p. 370. 



" " " Synopsis, p. 118. 



Color. General color of the body, reddish-brown ; several lighter-colored circular 



