22 FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



vomer ; snout with recurved spines ; branchiostegous rays 6 ; 

 body tapering to the tail ; but one dorsal fin, distinct. 



A. monopterygius. Cuv. The Bullhead. 

 Plate I. Fig. 1. 



Cuv. et Valenc. Hist. Nat. des Poiss. t. iv. p. 224. 

 Fauna Boreali Americana, p. 50. 



Early in May, 1838, I received three specimens of this fish 

 from Mr. Jonathan Johnson, Jr., of Nahant, who took them 

 from the stomachs of haddock he had just captured within 

 two miles of that place. They were each more or less" muti- 

 lated ; one of them, however, is sufficiently perfect to allow 

 me to present the following description, and to enable my 

 friend, Dr. Wyman, to figure it. 



Length of specimen, four inches. Color above, a light 

 brown, with six transverse dark bands, extending from head 

 to tail, those near the head broader : beneath, lighter. Body 

 elongated, gradually tapering to tail, divided longitudinally by 

 eight rows of scaly plates. Those just back of head much 

 the largest. Upon top of head, two rows of these scales : two 

 rows on sides : two beneath, in front of dorsal, and but six 

 rows back of that fin. The body is four-sided in front of the 

 dorsal fin. The angles of the large scales on the back, form 

 prominent ridges, and between them is thus formed a groove, 

 which extends to posterior extremity of dorsal fin : back of 

 that fin is a dorsal ridge, instead of a furrow, which passes to 

 the tail. The same distribution of these scaly rows exists be- 

 neath fish as upon upper part of body. Length of head equal 

 to one fifth length of body : width of head greater than that 

 of body. Eyes very large : orbitar bones prominent : whole 

 head bony. A longitudinal furrow extends from before eyes, 

 between them to occiput. A transverse depression exists back 

 of eyes, and also another at occiput. The snout has two re- 

 curved spines at its extremity, and a third, smaller one, back of 

 them, curving forwards. Mouth small ; numerous minute 

 teeth in both jaws. The operculum terminates in a spiny process. 



