230 HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



The anal fin, resembling the dorsal in its appearance, terminates just posteriorly 

 to that fin. 



The caudal fin is composed of stout, bifurcated rays. 



The fin rays are as follows :— D. 1, 35. P. 12. A. 39. C. 12. 



Length, seventeen inches. 



Remarks. The only individual of this species I have known to have been taken 

 in our waters was captured at Salem, August, 1845. It belongs to the Natural 

 History Society of that city, and was kindly loaned me by Dr. Wheatland, one 

 of the Curators of the Society, to determine the species. The fish, when dis- 

 covered, was swimming about two feet from the bottom, near the wharf, and from 

 post to post, biting off the barnacles attached to them. When taken, and lying 

 upon the wharf, it made a chirping noise like a bird, and endeavored to wound 

 his captor with his spine. While dying, the color of the abdomen changed as in 

 the dolphin. 



The specimen referred to had been injured in its capture, being speared ; and 

 had lost its proportions by the process of drying, preventing me at the time from 

 preparing an accurate description. My excellent friend, James Carson Brevoort, 

 Esq., the distinguished ichthyologist of Brooklyn, New York, has kindly loaned me 

 a specimen which has enabled me to present the above account. Dr. Dekay ob- 

 serves that this is a rare species in the waters of New York, he having seen but 

 two specimens. . 



In August, 18-42, the late lamented Charles D. Bates, M. D., formerly of the 

 U. S. Navy, sent me a figure and description of this fish which was taken in the 

 harbor of Portland, Maine, when he was attached to that station. He observes in 

 his letter to me: "This fish appeared, about a fathom under water, like a bit of kelp, 

 and was rising toward the surface, when a fisherman, observing its motion, put 

 his hand into the water, and the fish came directly into it and was caught." He 

 adds : " It is called Hog-fish vulgarly, either from its snout resembling that of this 

 animal, or from a sort of short grunting noise it makes on being taken out of the 

 water." 



Maine, Massachusetts, Storer. Connecticut, Linsley. New York, Mitchill, 

 Dekay. 



