FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 93 



Upper part of the body greenish ; a broad black band passes 

 from the snout across the eye longitudinally through the mid- 

 dle of the fish to the caudal rays ; body beneath this band 

 white, with cupreous reflections. Upon the upper edge of this 

 band, runs the lateral line. Above this, a golden parallel band 

 narrower than the darker colored ; from the anterior portion of 

 the head, along the dorsal ridge, a narrow band, similar to that 

 last spoken of. When the fish is swimming, the three bands 

 give it a very pleasing appearance. Length of the head about one 

 fifth the length of the fish ; the top of the head darker colored 

 than the rest of the fish, flattened. Jaivs destitute of teeth ; the 

 upper jaw the longer, semi-circular ; lip corrugated ; the lower 

 jaw elevated to a point in its middle, forming a triangle. Eyes 

 moderate in size ; pupils black ; irides golden. Gill-covers 

 silvery, with golden reflections. Scales on the body small ; 

 nine scales in an oblique line from the origin of the dorsal to 

 the lateral line. 



The Dorsal fin arises just in front of the ventrals ; brownish ; 

 transparent : higher than long. 



The Pectoral fins yellowish ; arising on a line with the pos- 

 terior angle of gill-covers. 



The Ventrals of the color of the abdomen, are situated under 

 the middle of the dorsal fin. 



The Anal is situated just in front of the caudal fin ; its 

 length equal to one third its height. 



The Caudal fin is forked. 



The fin rays are as follows : D. 13 ; P. 10 ; V. 9 ; A. 7 ; 

 C. 18. 



Hydrargira. Le Sueur. 



Generic characters. Ventral fins 6 rayed ; teeth in the jaivs 

 and throat ; those of the jatvs conic and recurved ; none in the 

 palate ; jaios protractile ; lower jaio longer than the upper one : 

 dorsal fin one, situate nearer the tail than the head, opposite to 

 the anal fin : scales on the opercula and body : head flat, 

 shielded above with large scales, the centre scale largest. 



