20 



HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



of Brookhaven, L. I., contained in the fourth volume of the " Boston Journal of Natural 

 History," when speaking of this species, says : « When at rest, they lie on the bottom, 

 with their broad pectorals sometimes spread and sometimes closed ; in swimming, 

 however, the pectorals are closed and flat upon the body. If alarmed by the approach 

 of a boat or any other object, they bury themselves so completely in the sand, that a 

 very close observation is necessary to detect them. This concealment is effected by 

 a rapid lateral movement of the body, which displaces the sand from beneath, and 

 causes it to fall upon their sides and back, covering them entirely, except the eyes 

 and top of the head. Probably they often resort to this manoeuvre when approached 

 by the large fish which feed upon them." 



Massachusetts, Storer. Connecticut, Ayres. New York, Mitchill, Cuvier 

 Dekay. Carolina, Cuvier. 



Although this species was supposed by Cuvier to be the Trigla Carolina of Linnaeus, 

 I am compelled to reject his specific name, as his description is altogether too indefinite 

 to identify the fish. He makes no mention of the characteristic palmation of the pec- 

 toral appendages. 



Prionotus pilatus, Storer. 



(Plate VI. Fig. 1.) 



Prionotus pilatus, Storer, Proceedings of Bost. Soc. of Nat. Hist., n. p. 77, 1845. 

 " " Stoker, Mem. of Amer. Acad., New Series, n. p. 529. 



" " Storer, Synopsis, p. 270. 



Color. Upper part of body a reddish-brown ; head a lighter red ; body beneath 

 yellowish-white ; throat color of pectorals ; pectorals dark blue ; ventrals color of ab- 

 domen. First dorsal fuliginous, crossed by two transverse white lines, one near its 

 base, and the other through its centre ; the upper membranous portion between the 

 fourth and fifth rays is marked by a large black blotch. The second dorsal of the same 

 color as the first, with undulating whitish lines crossing the connecting membrane from 

 its base to its margin, presenting a marbled appearance. Anal fin of a dirty white color. 

 Caudal fin colored like the pectorals, but rather lighter. 



Description. Body oblong, cylindrical. Head one fourth the length of the body ; 

 depth of head nearly equal to two thirds its length. Width of snout equal to nearly 

 twice the distance between the eyes. Eyes moderate, oblong, their longest diameter 

 equal to one sixth the length of the head. Nostrils small, nearer to the tip of the 

 snout than to the eyes. Jaws, palatines, and pharyngeals armed with numerous small, 

 card-like teeth. Upper jaw the longer. 



