FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 31 



The fin rays are as follows : D. 3-11 ; P. 10 ; V. 1-1 ; A. 

 1-8; C. 12. 



At first sight, this resembles the " G. traclmriis." It differs, 

 however, in having the dorsal plates narrower ; the lateral 

 keels of the tail more promijient, and the lateral line nearer 

 the back. 



G. apeltes. Cuv. The bloody Stickleback. 

 Cuv. et Valenc. Hist. Nat. des Poiss. t. iv. p. 505. 



Several specimens of a species which I suppose to be Cu- 

 vier's " apeltes,^^ were brought me by my friend Rev. J. L. Rus- 

 sell, from Salem, where he found them in large numbers in 

 creeks, to which the sea had access. Cuvier's description is 

 very concise, and no reference is made to the color of the 

 species ; his specimens were undoubtedly preserved in spirits. 

 From living specimens, I annex the following account : 



Of eight specimens before me, the largest is two inches in 

 length, and two and three quarters lines in its greatest depth. 

 All above lateral line, of a greenish brown color — 'beneath this 

 line, which is very perceptible, the color is darker, and is 

 broken irregularly by the extension of whiteness of abdomen. 

 In young specimens, the color is distributed in four or five 

 bars, which disappear in distinctness in the mature fish. 



Four moveable spines in front of the dorsal fin ; the first, 

 one half a line in length ; the second, the same length ; the 

 two last, shorter ; the last, shortest. 



The Ventral spine, one line and three quarters in length, is 

 serrated on its outer margin : from base of ventral spine, a 

 lateral spine passes almost to the anus. To the under portion 

 of the ventral spine is attached a reddish membrane, which 

 makes this part appear as if covered with blood, when the fish 

 is suddenly darting through the water, with this spine pro- 

 jecting. 



The fin rays are as follows : D. 3. 1-4 ; P. 11 ; V. 1 ; A. 10 ; 

 C. 13. 



