HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. HI 



extremity of the dorsal fin ; its height across the base of the ventrals, not including 

 the dorsal fin, is about equal to the length of the head. The length of the head, to 

 the posterior angle of the operculum, is equal to about one fourth the length of the body, 

 including the tail. The head is naked, with the exception of a patch of small scales 

 upon the upper part of the operculum, and a vertical band of similar scales upon the 

 preoperculum, just back of the eyes. The lips are large and fleshy; the jaws have 

 two rows of conical teeth: those of the first row are strong, the front teeth being 

 the largest ; those of the second row scarcely project above the flesh of the jaws. 

 Teeth in the pharynx. The eyes are circular, the diameter equal to half the distance 

 between them. The nostrils, which are small and double, are situated in front of and 

 above the anterior angle of the eyes. The lateral line arises just above the operculum, 

 and curves with the body. 



The dorsal fin rises just back of the pectorals ; the first seventeen rays terminate in 

 naked spines, at the base of which are small floating tentaculae ; the posterior, fleshy 

 rays of this fin are nearly as high again as the spinous rays, and this portion of the fin 

 is of a rounded form. This fin extends to within a short distance of the tail. The 

 base of the rays is scaled. 



The pectorals commence just in front of the posterior angle of the operculum ; 

 they are rounded at their extremities. Their length to their height is as one to 

 three. 



The ventrals are situated a short distance back of the pectorals ; their length is equal 

 to about one fourth of their height. The outer ray is spinous, and is about half as 

 high as the middle ray. 



The anal fin arises opposite the last spinous ray of the dorsal fin, and terminates on 

 the same plane with that fin ; the first three rays are spinous ; the fleshy portion is of 

 the same form as the corresponding portion of the dorsal fin ; this fin is longer than 

 high. 



The caudal fin is even at its extremity ; its rays are covered with scales for about 

 one half of their height. 



The fin rays are as follows: — D. 28. P. 15. V. 6. A. 11. C. 15. 



Length, six to eighteen inches. 



Remarks. Although a few years only have passed since this species was brought 

 into Massachusetts Bay, it is now taken along a large portion of the coast. At 

 Plymouth, Nahant, and Lynn, at some seasons, it is found in considerable numbers, and 

 is frequently caught from the bridges leading from Boston. A specimen was taken 

 from one of these bridges a year or two since which weighed eleven pounds and three 



