FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 103 



tinged with cupreous ; white beneath, in front of the ventrals. 

 Length of the head to the entire length of the fish, as 1 to 7. 

 Greatest width of the head, equal to one seventh the length of 

 the fish ; greatest depth of the fish, more than equal to one 

 seventh the length of the fish. Head flattened above ; upper 

 jaw longer than the lower ; both furnished with numerous 

 small teeth ; eight cirrhi about the head. From the angle of 

 the upper jaw on each side, one projects, one and a half inch 

 long, tapering to a point ; another, three quarters of an inch 

 long, back of and above this ; beneath the lower jaw, are also 

 four cirrhi, two on each side of its middle ; the outer, one inch 

 long ; the inner, three quarters of an inch long. All these 

 cirrhi are of the same color. Eyes small, one line in diameter ; 

 the distance between the eyes equal to about half the length of 

 the head. Two blunted spines on the humeral bone ; the up- 

 per, much the smaller. The lateral line arises above the pos- 

 terior angle of the operculum, and runs nearly a straight course 

 to the tail. 



The Dorsal fin arises about half an inch back of the pecto- 

 rals ; length to height as 1 to 2. A small adipose fin a short 

 distance in front of the tail. 



The Pectorals are situated a short distance in front of the 

 posterior angle of the operculum ; length to height as 3 to 12 ; 

 their outer ray is spinous, and serrated upon its outer edge ; it 

 is marked at its point, and is three lines shorter than the first 

 fleshy ray. 



The Ventrals arise on a line just back of the dorsal fin ; 

 length to height as 4 to 9. Anus large, oblong, between the 

 posterior half of the ventrals. 



The height of the Anal fin equal to half its length. 



The length of the Caudal almost equal to its height. All 

 the fins are dark colored. 



The fin rays are : D. 1-5 ; P. 1-8 ; Y. 8 ; A. 21 ; C. 19. 



In the dead fish, the dark coloring matter readily rubs off; 

 and the specimen, if untouched also, rapidly becomes of a 

 lighter color. 



In one specimen I have seen, a large black blotch was situ- 



