142 FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



of the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins with yellow ; this margin 

 is wider and of a deeper tint at the posterior extremity of the 

 body, and is continued on the caudal rays. Length of the 

 head to that of the body without the caudal rays, as 1 to 4 ; 

 depth, including fins, equal to half the entire length of the 

 fish. Mouth, small ; jaios equal, with sharp teeth compactly 

 set together ; lips tumid, making the mouth to appear some- 

 what like that of a '^ catostonius.''' Nostrils, double. ,Eyes 

 situated exactly over each other, separated by a narrow bony 

 ridge, destitute of scales ; longest diameter of the eye, nearly 

 equal to one fourth the length of the head. The lateral line 

 commences about the length of the ventral fin above the pec- 

 torals, and making a high arch over the pectorals, commences 

 a straight course on a line opposite the twenty-fourth ray of 

 the dorsal fin, and is continued to the extremity of the caudal 

 rays. 



The Dorsal fin commences over the anterior third of the 

 upper eye. and increasing in the length of its rays, which 

 are longest towards the middle of the body, and again diminish 

 in their length, terminates about an inch anterior to the 

 rays of the caudal fin. 



The length of the Pectorals, one line more than one fourth 

 the length of the head. 



The Ventrals commence on a line with the base of the pec- 

 torals. 



Anterior to the Anal fin is a strong spine which projects for- 

 wards, almost concealed by the flesh. The anal fin commen- 

 ces under the posterior third of the right ventral fin, and ter- 

 minates on a plane Avith the dorsal fin ; the rays of this fin, 

 like those of the dorsal, are longest towards the middle of the 

 fin. 



The length of the Caudal fin, one third more than its depth 

 at the base. 



The anal, dorsal, and ventral fins on the left side, white, 

 tinged with yellow ; pectorals, on same side, white. Fins on 

 the right side edged Avith white. 



The fin rays are : D. 76 ; P. 10 ; V. 6 ; A. 55 ; C. IS. 



