72 ^ FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



Body narrow compared with the breadth of the head, and 

 tapering gradually to the tail ; vent about the middle of the 

 body ; the whole fish covered with a loose skin. 



Color of the whole upper surface of the body uniform 

 brown ; fin membranes darker ; under surface of the body, 

 ventral, and pectoral fins white ; tail dark brown, almost 

 black." 



By the motion of the filaments with which the head of this 

 species is furnished, it is supposed to allure within its reach 

 smaller species upon which it voraciously feeds. That it 

 however sometimes seizes large and powerful fishes, we learn 

 from Pennant, who says it is so highly regarded by the fisher- 

 men on the coast of Scarborough, being supposed by them to 

 be a great enemy of the dog fish, that it is set at liberty when- 

 ever taken : and he adds in a note. " the bodies of these fierce 

 and voracious -fish are often found in the stomach of the Fish- 

 ing frog." 



Chironectes. Cuv. 



Generic characters. Four rays on the head, as in Lophms ; 

 the first of which is slender, and frequently terminating in a 

 tuft; the succeeding ones, augmented by a membrane, are 

 sometimes much enlarged, and at others, united into a fin. 

 The body and head are compressed ; the m,outh cleft vertically : 

 the only opening of the branchice, which are furnished ivith 

 four rays, is a canal, and a small hole behind the pectorals ; 

 the dorsal occupies nearly the whole length of the back. The 

 entire body is frequently provided with cutaneous appendages ; 

 there are four branchicB ; the natatory bladder is large, and the 

 intestine moderate, and without coeca. These fishes, by filling 

 their enormous stomachs unth air, are enabled to expand their 

 belly like a balloon ; on land, three pairs of fins enable them to 

 creep almost like small quadrupeds, the pecto7'als, from their 

 position, performing the functions of hind feet, and thus they 

 live out of icater for two or three days. 



