188 HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



ance exists upon the belly and posterior portions of the fish. The snout is tinged with 

 orange. The top of the head in front of the eyes, the cheeks and intermaxillaries, are 

 also dotted. The upper edge of the dorsal fin is black. The pectorals are transparent, 

 and dotted throughout their greater portion. The anal fin is of the color of the abdo- 

 men, and is also dotted, and black upon its edge. The caudal fin is reddish, with 

 exceedingly minute black dots ; its posterior extremity is black. 



These colors fade in death, and the upper portion becomes of a grayish-brown, and 

 the abdomen a dirty white. 



Description. Body cylindrical, compressed posteriorly. Length of the head equal to 

 nearly one fourth the entire fish ; depth of the body in front of the pectorals one fifth 

 its entire length ; depth across from the anus, exclusive of the dorsal fin, about one 

 sixth its length ; depth of the body beyond the termination of the dorsal and anal fins 

 equal to about one quarter the last measurement. Head much flattened above, broad, 

 and strongly convex back of the eyes; sides somewhat compressed; snout projecting, 

 rounded ; eyes circular, large, prominent ; the upper jaw projecting beyond the lower ; 

 both jaws are armed with several rows of sharp incurved teeth ; five or six of these in 

 the upper jaw, a less number in the lower ; teeth also on the vomer ; a small portion at 

 the tip of each jaw is without teeth; that in the lower jaw is much the smaller. 

 Tongue large and fleshy. A minute barbule at the chin. 



The lateral line commences above and anterior to the posterior angle of the opercu- 

 lum, and curves with the body until it reaches a line opposite the eighteenth ray of the 

 second dorsal, whence it pursues a straight course to the tail. 



The first dorsal fin is triangular, and commences just back of the pectorals ; its third 

 ray is filamentous, and about twice the length of the fin. 



The second dorsal commences just back of the first ; its rays gradually diminish in 

 height posteriorly. The membrane connecting the fin rays is much firmer than that of 

 the first dorsal, although, like it, it is transparent ; all the rays are slightly free at their 

 tips. This fin terminates just anterior to the commencement of the fleshy portion of 

 the caudal fin. 



The pectorals commence just beneath the posterior angle of the operculum ; their 

 length is equal to about one fourth their height. They are rounded when expanded. 



The ventrals commence at a point just half-way between the base of the pectorals 

 and the angle of the lower jaw ; they are composed apparently of a single ray, which bi- 

 furcates about its middle ; but dissection shows they are formed of two rays, the inferior 

 of which is much the longer. 



The anal fin arises some distance back of the second dorsal, and terminates opposite 



