102 FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



Another specimen taken with the preceding, lies before me, 

 agreeing in all important particulars, — -form, color, proportionate 

 length of jaios, and number of fin rays ; but having, like the 

 " sciitellatum,,''^ (which Le Sueur described from a specimen 

 " found in the stomach of a fresh codfish, which had been 

 brought to Boston from the Bank of Newfoundland,") six dor- 

 sal finlets and seven anal ; showing that the number of finlets 

 cannot be relied upon for a specific character. 



Family III. 

 SILURID^. 



PiMELODUs. Lacepede. 



Generic characters. Body covered with a naked skin; no 

 lateral armature ; jaws and often palatine hones furnished 

 loith teeth, hut there is no hand of teeth on the vomer parallel 

 to that on the upper jaw. The form of the head varies exceed- 

 inghj, as well as the number of its barhules. 



P. nebulosus. Le Sueur. The Horned Pout. 

 Memoii-es du Museum d'Histoire Naturelle, t. v. p. 149. 



This species very common in our ponds and streams, in com- 

 pany with the '■^ Percaflavesce7is," '^ Poj7iotis vulgaris,^' '' La- 

 hrax mucronatus./' '■' Leuciscus crysoleucas," (fcc. is known in 

 the interior of the State by the vulgar names of " Horn pout,'''' 

 and " Minister.'''' By many, it is highly esteemed as an article 

 of food, and preferred to every species of our common fluviatile 

 fishes, save the pickerel. It is generally fried, the skin having 

 previously been removed. Specimens are occasionally met 

 with, weighing three quarters of a pound. 



From a living specimen seven inches in length, the follow- 

 ing account is drawn up. Color fuliginous, darker upon the 

 head and back, approaching to black ; lighter upon the sides, 



