66 HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



Description. Form elongated, gradually sloping from commencement of dorsal to ex- 

 tremity of snout, and tapering from dorsal to tail. Length of head about one fourth 

 length of fish. Depth across base of pectorals, two ninths of entire length ; across base 

 of anal, about one seventh ; at base of caudal, one twenty-eighth, and in another speci- 

 men, one thirty-fourth. Eyes circular ; distance between them less than half the length 

 of head. Opercula very large, perfectly smooth. Jaws equal when closed. Tongue 

 large. Inside of mouth blackish. Gape of mouth very large. Entire body covered by 

 large scales, which are almost hidden by superjacent smaller ones, and a thickened mem- 

 brane. Patches of still larger scales, or bony plates, in front of first dorsal, around pec- 

 toral, between it and lateral line. 



First dorsal commences just over pectorals. Its rays are very strong, gradually de- 

 creasing in length until hardly perceptible ; the first the longer. The fin, when unex- 

 panded, shuts out of sight into a deep groove, deepest of course at its origin. 



The height of the second dorsal is much greater than that of the first, and more than 

 twice its own length. Followed by ten finlets. 



Pectorals falciform. About one seventh of length of fish. 



Ventrals, just beneath pectorals ; stout, and shutting, like dorsal, into a groove. 



Anal commences some distance back of a line from termination of second dorsal. Be- 

 hind it nine finlets, the middle ones the longer, as is also the case with those of £the 

 dorsal. 



Caudal lunated. Measured across the extremities of its lobes, it is equal to one third 

 the entire fish. At its base a stout lateral carina of considerable length. Above and 

 below its posterior third are two smaller carinae. 



Owing to the denseness of the membrane which connects them, it is with great diffi- 

 culty that the fin rays can be counted. As accurately as they could be ascertained, they 

 are as follows :— D. 14-1-13 + X. P. 34. V. 1-5. A. 2- 12 + IX. C. 19. 



Length of two specimens which I have examined, 8 feet 6 inches and 9 feet 3 inches. 

 Weight, over 1,000 lbs. 



Remarks. In the year 1838 I had an opportunity to examine a specimen of this fish, 

 which was taken near Cape Ann, and concluded that it must be the vulgaris of Cuvier. 

 Dr. Dekay, in his Report, not having seen an entire specimen, adopted my description and 

 conclusion. During the last spring, a second specimen was examined at Provincetown, 

 and carefully figured by Mr. Sonrel ; and I have satisfied myself that it differs from all 

 the species of the genus contained in the Histoire Naturelle des Poissons. The fol- 

 lowing are the differential marks from the vulgaris, which it most nearly resembles : — 



1st. In the vulgaris the height of the second dorsal is about that of the first. In our 

 fish it is much greater, and also as compared with its own length. 



