FISHES OF NEW YORK 



is moderately large, rather more than one third of total length 

 without the caudal, its width equal to the length of its postorbi- 

 tal part. The snout is very short and obtuse, its length about 

 one half that of the eye. The eye is placed high, its diameter 

 contained three and two thirds times in the length of the head.. 

 The interorbital space is slightly convex, its width three fourths 

 the length of the eye. The mouth is large, the maxilla broadly 

 expanded behind and reaching nearly to below the hind margin 

 of the eye. A well developed supplemental maxillary bone, two 

 thirds as long as the eye. Six rows of scales on the cheeks. 

 The operculum ends in two thin, flat points, between which 

 there is a black spot, about two fifths as long as the eye. Gill 

 rakers short and few, five developed on the first arch, the long- 

 est two fifths as long as the eye. The spinous dorsal begins 

 over the fifth scale of the lateral line; its base is as long as 

 the head without the snout. The first spine is very short, one 

 half as long as the eye; the spines increase very gradually in 

 length to the last, which is as long as the eye and snout 

 combined. The soft dorsal base is two thirds as long as that 

 of the spinous dorsal; its rays are longer than the spines, the 

 longest (fourth to sixth) about one half as long as the head. 

 The anal begins under 18th scale of the lateral line; the first 

 spine one half as long as the eye; the spines increase in length 

 to the last, which is one third as long as the head; the rays are 

 long, the longest (fourth) equal to postorbital length of head. 

 The ventral reaches to the vent. The pectoral reaches to below 

 the 15th scale of the lateral line. The caudal is rounded, its 

 middle rays five sevenths as long as the head. The lateral line 

 is complete and runs parallel to the dorsal outline. D. XII, 11; 

 A. VI, 10; V. I, 5; P. 14. Scales 6-43-12. In spirits the color 

 is dark brown; two or three dusky stripes on the sides below 

 the lateral line; a dark shade around the nape extending back- 

 ward behind the eye; two dark stripes across the cheeks and 

 operculum; a dark opercular flap as described above; the fins 

 unspotted. In life the fish is dark green. The example 

 described, no. 17844 U, S. National Museum, from New Jersey, 



