170 FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



latter, sent me by Dr. Yale, from Holmes Hole, I would offer 

 the following description : 



All the upper part of the body yellowish white, with an 

 immense number of minute black dots. Abdomen white. 

 Several undefined black blotches on the back, which, as they 

 approach the belly, assume the appearance of bars, six to eight 

 of which are noticeable, — two in front of the pectorals, and the 

 last at the base of the caudal fin ; these bars vary, in their ex- 

 tent upon the abdomen, from two to five lines. The whole 

 surface of the body, save the space between the dorsal and 

 caudal fins, and the anal and caudal fins, roughened by innu- 

 merable small spines. Length of the fish, nine inches. Great- 

 est depth, two inches. Width across the back, over the 

 pectorals, two and a half inches. Distance from the snout to 

 the anterior angle of the eye, one inch and two lines ; distance 

 between the eyes half an inch. Greatest circumference of the 

 specimen, when inflated, thirteen and a half inches. 



The fin rays are : D. 6 ; P. 15 ; A. 6 ; C. 7. 



Dr. Yale informs me that this fish is frequently taken when 

 fishing for other species. 



Orthagoriscus. Schn. 



Generic characters. Jaics undivided, forming a cutting 

 edge ; body compressed, deep for its length, short, truncated, 

 ivithout spines ; tail short, and very high vertically : rays of 

 the dorsal and anal fins long and pointed, both imited to the 

 caudal fin at the base. 



O. mola. Lin. The short Sun Fish. 

 Plate III. Fig. 1. 



Turton's Linnaeus, vol. i. p. 891. 



Shaw's Zoology, vol. v. pt. 2d, p. 438 et fig. 



Pennant's British Zoology, vol. iii. p. 115, fig. 54. 



Trans. Lit. et Philosoph. Soc. N. Y. p. 471. 



Strack's ])lates, No, 13. 4. 



Mc Murtrie's Cuv. vol. ii, p. 272. 



Yarrell's British Fishes, vol. ii. p. 350 et fig. 



