28 FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS, 



by a common membrane, runs nearly the entire length of the 

 fah, and unites as well as the anal with the tail. No ventral 

 fins. 







C. maculatus. Nobis. The spotted Wry-mouth. 



Three specimens of a fish evidently belonging to the Buc- 

 catce. Loricatce have fallen under my observation, for the recep- 

 tion of which I know of no established genus. I am compel- 

 led therefore to constitute a genus in which it may be placed. 



This I do with no slight reluctance ; and, anxious only to 

 throw more light upon this branch of study, I shall feel highly 

 gratified, should it be received and retained by succeeding 

 Ichthyologists. 



The first specimen met with, was purchased by the " Boston 

 Society of Natural History" some years since, with several other 

 species, and was said to have been taken in the outer basin of 

 Boston harbor : this specimen is still in the cabinet of that soci- 

 ety ; it is about twenty-one inches long, and will serve for my 

 description. It is of a dirty reddish white color, the cuticle 

 having been removed before it was purchased. The second 

 specimen, larger, of a reddish brown color sprinkled over 

 with dark brown blotches, was sent me by Mr. Jonathan John- 

 son Jr., of Nahant, who took it while fishing in the vicinity of 

 that place. The third specimen was taken from the stomach 

 of a haddock, and kindly sent me by Mr. Holbrook, fishmon- 

 ger in duincy Market. This last specimen was twelve inches 

 in length, of a dull flesh color, covered with innumerable 

 very minute black dots, and above and beneath the lateral 

 line, an interrupted row of dark brown blotches extended from 

 pectoral fins to tail ; these blotches larger at anterior portion of 

 body, and more numerous towards the tail. Top and sides of 

 head, snout, and anterior portion of underside of lower jaw 

 marked with moderate sized spots of a deeper brown than 

 those of the back. 



The specimen before me is twenty-one inches in length : its 

 greatest width two and a half inches. On each side of top of 

 head, two prominent bony ridges run directly back from pos- 



