HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 257 



eyes ; they are furnished anteriorly with a cartilaginous valve ; their length is equal to 

 the short diameter of the eyes. Between the eyes, are two longitudinal patches of nu- 

 merous mucous pores, which are indistinctly continued nearly to the extremity of the 

 snout. All the lower portion of the head, in front of the mouth, is covered with similar 

 mucous orifices, which, like those just mentioned, exude, when pressed, a gelatinous se- 

 cretion. The nostrils are double, and are situated nearer to the eye than to the snout ; 

 the outer orifice is circular, the inner transverse ; they are situated transversely with re- 

 gard to each other. The mouth is moderate, nearly circular when expanded. In the 

 upper jaw, are three rows of teeth ; in the lower jaw, are two rows ; these teeth have 

 very sharp edges, and their points are turned outwardly from the centre of the jaw. 

 The tongue is large, rounded at its tip, and, like the whole interior of the mouth, is white. 

 The branchial orifices, five in number, are situated directly in front of the pectoral fins ; 

 the posterior is rather the largest. 



The lateral line, which is situated on the upper half of the side, pursues nearly a 

 straight course to the extremity of the fleshy portion of the tail, from whence it passes 

 obliquely upward to the outer edge of the fin. 



The first dorsal fin arises on the anterior third of the body ; it is convex before, emar- 

 ginated above, and terminates posteriorly above in an acute angle. A strong triangular 

 spine, almost black at its base and white at its tip in some specimens, nearly half the 

 height of the fin, arises at its anterior base, and is concealed in nearly half its height by 

 the fin. 



The second dorsal fin of the same form as the first, but much smaller, is situated back 

 of the first dorsal, at a distance from it equal to one fourth the whole length of the fish. 

 A spine similar in its form and situation to that in the first dorsal, but nearly as high as 

 the fin itself, is also here observed. 



The pectorals are large, subtriangular, emarginated posteriorly ; they commence at 

 the last branchial orifice, their length is rather less than half their height. The ventrals 

 are small and subtriangular ; they are situated just anterior to the second dorsal, with 

 the anus between them. 



The caudal fin is very large and powerful ; its upper portion is broad, and as long 

 again as the lower. 



Length, one to three feet ; weight, eight to fifteen pounds. 



Remarks. In the Spring and Autumn, this species makes its appearance in shoals in 

 our bay ; they are frequently met with in immense numbers. These shoals seldom re- 

 main in shallow water, or near the shore more than three or four days. They feed upon 



vol. rx. 41 



