FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 19 



ing back in a straight line as far as extremity of opercular 

 spine ; directly below the base of this spine, a very small one, 

 only two lines in length, pointing obliquely backwards and 

 downwards : at inferior angle of preopercle, a spine nearly half 

 an inch long, pointing downwards and forwards. Two spines 

 upon operculum ; the larger, nearly two inches long, passes 

 from its upper anterior portion to posterior angle, pointing 

 obliquely backwards ; the other, quite small at inferior angle, 

 pointing directly downwards. Scapular spine three lines long. 

 Humeral spine strong, one half inch in length. 



Eyes six lines in diameter ; pupils black, irides golden : dis- 

 tance between eyes, four lines. Nostrils small, tubular. Jaws 

 armed with numerous sharp, compact teeth. Upper jaw, the 

 longer. 



The first Dorsal fin is of a dark brown color, irregularly 

 banded with yellow : the rays are much stouter than those of 

 the same fin in the " Groenlandicus ;" the extremities of the 

 first five rays project beyond the connecting membrane. 

 Length of fin greater than its height. 



The second Dorsal commences at the termination of the first, 

 and is one third longer than that fin ; and is of a greenish yel- 

 low color, with three transverse black bands. 



The Pectorals are large, rounded ; the rays of a dirty white 

 color, much smaller than those of this fin in the " Groenlandi- 

 cus; " the connecting membrane of fin, white, crossed trans- 

 versely by four regular transverse black bands. 



The Ventrals commence just back of the second dorsal. Its 

 length to its height as 3 to 1 ; white, irregularly barred. 

 . The Caudal fin is even at its extremity : yellowish, with 

 three regular transverse dark bars j its height to its length as 2 

 to 1. 



The fin rays are as follows : D. 9-16 ; P. 17 ; V. 3 ; A. 14 ; 

 C. 12. 



