136 . HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



GENUS H. BELONE, Cuv. 



Head and body greatly elongated ; the latter covered with minute scales. Both jaws 

 very much produced, straight, narrow, and pointed ; armed with numerous small teeth, 

 those of the pharynx paved. Scales not very apparent, except a longitudinal range, 

 carinated on each side near the inferior edge. 



Belone truncata, Lesueur. 



The Gar-fish. 

 (Plate XXIV. Fig. 3.) 



Esox Belone, Bill-fish, Mitch., Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. of N. T., I. p. 443. 



Esox longirostris, Long-jawed Fresh-water Pike, Mitch., Amcr. Month. Mag., n. p. 322. 



Belone truncata, Gar or Bill-fish, Lesceur, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc, II. p. 126, fig. 



" " Gar-fish, Stoker, Report, p. 98. 



" " Banded Gar-fish, Dekay, Report, p. 227, pi. 35, fig. 112. 



" " Storer, Mem. Amer. Acad., New Series, II. p. 438. 



" " " Synopsis, p. 186. 



L' Orphie a caudale tronque'e (Belone truncata, Lesueur), Cut. et Val., xviii. p. 422. 



Color. After being preserved in salt, this fish is of a light-green above ; beneath 

 silvery, including opercles and lower mandible. Just above the base of the pectorals a 

 band of a darker color arises, and passes in a straight line to the origin of the dorsal fin. 

 Minute fuliginous spots upon the upper portion of opercles. 



Description. The body is elongated; the scales small and orbicular. The lateral line 

 arises at the inferior angle of the operculum, and, passing gradually up to the inferior 

 base of the pectorals, assumes thence a straight line, which is continued to the base of 

 the caudal rays. Its greatest depth is equal to about one fifteenth its entire length ; 

 the length of the head, from the angle of the jaws to the posterior portion of 

 the operculum, is equal to one tenth the length of the body. The jaws are armed 

 with distant, very sharp, conical teeth, between which are numerous others very mi- 

 nute ; the lower mandible projects beyond the upper, and is fleshy at its tip. The 

 head is flattened above, and compressed laterally ; the eyes are longitudinally oval ; the 

 distance between the eyes is equal to their longer diameter. The nostrils are situated 

 in a triangular space just in front of the eyes. 



The dorsal fin is situated on the posterior fourth of the body ; its anterior rays are 

 highest, and it is emarginated posteriorly. 



The pectorals are directly back of the posterior angle of the operculum ; their length 

 is equal to one fourth the height of their longest rays. 



The ventrals are situated upon the posterior half of the body ; their length is equal 

 to one fourth of their height. 



