232 HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



MoN ACANTHUS SIGNIFER, StOref. 



(Plate XXXV. Fig. 1.) 



Monacanthus setifer, Decay, Report, p. 337, pi. 59, fig. 194. 

 Monacanthus signifer, Storek, Mem. Amer. Acad., New Series, II. p. 497. 

 " " " Synopsis, p. 245. 



Color. Of a reddish-brown color, with, greenish reflections. 



Description. Body elongated, compressed. The entire surface is very minutely 

 granulated, by which a sensation of roughness is perceived, by the finger, over its 

 whole extent, with the exception of the fleshy portion of the tail, and a small 

 portion of the body just anterior to it; which parts are thickly studded with stiff 

 setse, looking and feeling like the teeth of a card, the points of which incline for- 

 wards, producing consequently this roughness only when the finger is drawn towards 

 the tail. 



The depth of the fish across the body from the base of the dorsal fin is less 

 than half its length ; the depth at the fleshy portion, to its greatest depth, is as 

 one to four. The length of the head is equal to one fourth the entire length of 

 the fish. The mouth is small. The teeth are sharp, and are four in number on 

 each side. The eyes are circular. On the top of the head, back of the centre 

 of the eyes, is situated a movable spine, terminating in a naked point, and armed 

 posteriorly upon its sides with a number of small spines pointing downwards ; these 

 spines are more developed towards its upper portion. 



The dorsal fin arises just back of the centre of the fish, and is nearly as long 

 as the greatest depth of the fish ; its second ray is the longest. 



The pectorals commence on a line beneath the dorsal spine. 



The pelvic bone is prominent, and terminates in a small stellated point; the 

 dewlap to which it is attached is marked by large granulations, similar to those 

 upon the rest of the surface. 



The anal fin commences back of the dorsal ; it is of a rounded form, and ter- 

 minates opposite that fin. 



The caudal fin is composed of very firm rays. 



The fin rays are as follows :— D. 32. P. 16. A. 32. C. 10. 



Length, five inches. 



Remarks. Until the summer of 1842 I had not known of an individual of this 

 species having been taken in the waters of this State. During that season, how- 

 ever, I saw specimens which had been caught at Hingham, Lynn, Nahant, and 

 even in our harbor by means of seines. For the fine specimen from which my 



