66 HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



The caudal is composed of stout articulated rays, and is nearly straight at its ex- 

 tremity. 



The fin rays are as follows: D. 9 to 10-12 to 13. P. 12 to 13. V. 6. A. 10. 

 C. 12|. Length, a foot to 18 inches. 



Remarks. This pretty species, which is much more common than the P. Carolinus, 

 is frequently taken in the Vineyard Sound while fishing for Scapaug (P. argyrops), but 

 is not used as an article of food. 



Massachusetts, STOKER. Connecticut, AYRES. New York, MITCHILL, CUVIER, 

 DEKAY. 



PRIONOTUS PALMIPES, Storer. 

 The Web-fingered Gurnard. 



(PLATE V. FIG. 1.) 



Trigla Carolina, LIN., p. 528, Cuv. et VAL. 



Trigla palmipes, Web-fingered Gurnard, MITCHILL, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. of N. Y., I. p. 431, pi. 4, fig. 5. 



Le Prionote dr. la Caroline, Prionolus Carolinus, Cuv. et VAL., iv. p. 90. 



Prionotus Carolinus, Web-fingered Grunter, STORER, Report, p. 14. 



" AYRES, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist., iv. p. 258. 



" Web-fingered Gurnard, DEKAY, N. Y. Report, p. 46, pi. 5, fig. 15. 



" LINSLEY, Cat. of Fishes of Conn. 



" STORER, Mem. of Amer. Acad., New Series, n. p. 303. 



" STORER, Synopsis, p. 51. 



Color. When first taken, the body above is of a reddish-brown color, with irregular 

 blotches and shadings of a darker brown appearing like indistinct transverse white 

 bands across the dorsum ; beneath nearly white. Branchial membrane fuliginous ; 

 margined anteriorly and posteriorly with white. The connecting membrane of the 

 first dorsal is transparent, slightly dusky, marked by oblique white lines, and has a 

 large dark-brown spot, the greater portion of which is between the fourth and fifth 

 rays ; in young specimens this spot is confined entirely to the space between the fourth 

 and fifth spines. The second dorsal is of a dull white color, marked by interrupted 

 longitudinal orange bands. The pectorals are reddish-brown above, slate-colored be- 

 neath, with the exception of the two posterior rays, which are white. The pectoral 

 appendages are reddish-brown at their base, and orange at extremities. The ventrals 

 are reddish-white above, white beneath. The anal is of the same general color as 

 the second dorsal. 



Description. Length of head rather less than one fourth the length of the entire 

 fish ; width of head more than half its length. The armature of the head is very 

 similar to that of P. lineatus, and yet there are striking differences ; the several bones 



