HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 259 



patches along its upper part, at the base of the dorsal fin ; the spaces between the 

 rings darker than the rest of the body, presenting the appearance of bars. From be- 

 neath the eye a broad black band, wider at its base, crosses the operculum obliquely ; 

 two other bands of the same color extend from behind the eye backwards, in nearly a 

 straight line, the distance of from one to two lines. Body beneath the lateral line 

 lighter colored ; abdomen yelloAvish-white. Head above, brownish ; opercula and pre- 

 opercula yellow. Numerous black spots upon dorsal fin. Those upon the five first 

 rays larger. Pectorals light, with some darker shades. Edge of anal dark-colored. 

 Small dark-colored spots upon caudal. 



Description. Length, including tail, five inches five lines ; depth across on a line 

 with the anus, one inch ; body much compressed. Body smooth, scales very minute. 

 Length of head, from tip of snout to posterior angle of the operculum, is to the entire 

 length of body, as one to three ; entire surface destitute of scales ; jaws somewhat 

 protractile, armed with prominent sharp teeth ; lips large and fleshy ; over nostrils a 

 minute filament one third of a line in length ; circumference of eye two lines. 



The lateral line commences just above the angle of the operculum, and having ex- 

 tended two lines, subbifurcates ; passing down in a gradual curve a little more than a 

 line, it is continued in a straight course to the base of the caudal fin ; while the uj^per 

 portion abruptly terminates oj^posite the fourteenth ray of the dorsal fin. 



The dorsal fin, commencing on a line Avith the posterior angle of the operculum, is 

 continued to the caudal fin ; the first five rays of this fin are shorter than the sixth ; 

 the rays become again shorter as they approach the tail. 



The pectorals are rounded ; they arise on a line with the posterior angle of the 

 operculum. 



The ventrals are situated two lines in front of the pectorals ; the rays are united 

 throughout the greater portion of their extent ; extremities free. The anus is situated 

 two and a half inches from the extremity of the jaws. 



The anal fin commences just half-way between the tip of the snout and the ex- 

 tremity of the taU. 



The caudal fin is rounded. 



The number of fin rays are as follows: — D. 43. P. 13. V. 3. A. 30. C. U. 



Remarks. I have seen but a single si^ecimen of this fish ; it was found at an un- 

 usually low tide among the sea- weed at Nahant, in 1838, and brought to me by my 

 brother-in-law, Thomas M. Brewer, M. D. It was placed in the collection of the Boston 

 Society of Natural History, and has been destroyed, compelling me to introduce here 

 my former description, and preventing me from giving a figure. 



