FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 163 



between the same angle and the origin of the pectorals, equal. 

 Jaws tubular, compressed, a slight ridge above ; lower jaw 

 rather the longer, passing obliquely upward to form the mouth ; 

 top of the head depressed ; a furrow between the eyes ; a crest 

 on the neck ; eyes circular, half a line in diameter. Operculum 

 brown above, golden beneath; under the glass, exhibiting 

 minute granulations, and radiating strias. 



The Dorsal fin arises two inches two lines from the tip of 

 the snout ; the height of the fin one seventh of its length, of a 

 light brown color. 



The Pectorals just back of the operculum. the color of the 

 under part of the body ; length, one half of the height. * 



The Anal fin is situated under the middle of the dorsal fin, 

 and is very minute. 



The Caudal fin is two lines in length, darker colored than 

 the body, rounded at the extremity. 



The fin rays are : D. 38 ; P. 13 ; A. 3 ; C. 9. 



Since the above description was drawn up, I have received 

 a specimen also from Dr. Yale. 



S. Peckianus* Nobis. Peck's Pipefish. 



Plate I. Fig. 2. 



The specimen here described was received from Dr. Yale, 

 who thus writes me from Holmes Hole : " The small pipe fish 

 was taken in a pond, south side of the Isl'and, which commu- 

 nicates with the sea." 



Its length is six inches. Its whole surface is covered with 

 horny striated plates ; the body gradually tapering from the head 

 to the tail, at which part it is nearly a point. On each side of the 



* Tnthe remarks which precede this Report, this species is called " Peckii." It has been 

 suggested that this is incorrect, and that naturalists would do well to observe the following 

 Linnsean law relating to this subject : " When species are named after individuals, the rule 

 of composition is this : if the individual is the discoverer or the describer of it, the specific 

 name is then to be in the genitive case ; but if the name is merely a compliment, without 

 reference to either of these circumstances, the name should be rendered in an adjective 

 form, with the termination, anus, a, urn" 



Lindley's Introduction to Botany , sec. ed. p. 458. 



Agreeably to this suggestion, I have changed the name as above. 



