128 . FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



several years in spirits in the cabinet of the " Boston Society of 

 Natural History," and its colors have undoubtedly somewhat 

 changed. Mitchell, it would seem from his silence, had never 

 seen this species. And Richardson makes no mention of it in 

 his " Fauna ;" my specimen, however, agrees so well with 

 Yarrell's description of the " minuta" that I cannot doubt its 

 identity with that species. 



My specimen is eight inches in length ; length of the head, 

 two inches j depth of the body across the base of the pectorals, 

 rather less than the length of the head. The lateral line 

 commences just above the posterior angle of the operculum, 

 curves slightly over the pectorals, and a quarter of an inch 

 back of these fins assumes a straight line, which is continued 

 to the tail. Snout obtuse ; a line of mucous pores along the 

 intermaxillary bones from the tip of the snout to a line be- 

 neath the anterior angle of the eye. Upper jaw longer than 

 the lower ; jaws furnished with sharp teeth. A cirrhus one 

 fourth of an inch long is suspended from the chin. Eye half 

 an inch in diameter, being equal to one fourth the length of 

 the head. Color of the specimen above, of a reddish yellow ; 

 abdomen, of a dirty white, or rather a yellowish white covered 

 with innumerable minute black points. 



The first Dorsal fin commences just back of the origin of 

 the pectorals ; rather higher than long. 



The second Dorsal, which is as long again as the first, be- 

 gins and terminates on the same plane with the anal fin. 



The third Dorsal, which is longer than high, is longer than 

 the first dorsal, and shorter than the second. 



The Pectorals are an inch long. 



The Yentrals are fuliginous ; their first ray is shorter than 

 the second, which is the longest ray of the fin, and is separated 

 from it or free at extremities. 



The first Anal fin is directly back of the vent ; longer than 

 high. The second Anal is one third shorter than the first. 



The Caudal fin is but slightly forked. 



The fin rays are : D. 12-19-17 ; P. 17 ; V. 6 ; A. 22-17 ; 

 C. 20. 



