20 FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



C aeneus. Mitchell. The brazen Bullhead. 



Lit. et Philosoph Soc. Trans. N. Y. p. 380. 

 Cuv. et Valenc. Hist. Nat. des Poiss. t. iv. p. 189. 



This species is taken from our wharves with the •' Yirginia- 

 nus.^' Like that fish, it is very voracious, catching at almost any 

 kind of bait offered to it, and distending itself immensely with 

 food. 



My description is drawn up from a specimen twelve inches 

 in length. All upper part of body, of a yellowish brown 

 color, shaded throughout with fuliginous blotches, which 

 upon the head prevail over the yellow : on sides of abdomen, 

 beneath the lateral line, lighter : beneath, and covered by pec- 

 torals, a broad band of very minute black points extends even 

 beyond the anus, along the edge of the anal fin ; the portion in 

 front of anus, contains one or more rows of well marked large, 

 circular, yellow spots. Entire under surface of head also 

 sprinkled over with similar black points. Greatest depth of 

 specimen equal to one fourth its length : greatest width across 

 back of head equal to one third its length. Length of head 

 to whole length of fish, as five to twelve : upon each side of 

 head, nine more or less prominent spines, those on the gill- 

 covers the largest : one, just above nostrils, three lines in 

 length and incurved ; a second, resembling a blunted tubercle 

 at the upper posterior angle of eyes ; a third, rather sharper 

 than the second, forms the posterior boundary of the head. A 

 strong, sharp spine, half an inch in length, is situated upon 

 the supra scapular bone. The operculmn has two spines ; the 

 largest, one quarter of an inch in length, at the posterior angle : 

 the second, quite small at the inferior angle, almost concealed 

 in the flesh, pointing downwards. The preoperculum lias 

 three spines ; the largest, nine lines in length, is sharp, naked 

 at its posterior portion, and pointing upwards ; the second, 

 much smaller, is also naked, and situated at the base of the 

 first, appearing as if a bifurcation of it, pointing backwards ; 



