164 FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



anterior portion of the body, are three ridges, and one passes 

 from the neck through the middle of the abdomen to the vent ; 

 this ridge upon the abdomen does not exist back of the vent. 

 In front of the posterior extremity of the dorsal fin, the body 

 is hexangular ; back of this fin, quadrangular. Color of the 

 specimen very similar to that of the preceding species. The 

 divisions of the abdominal plates marked on their outer edges 

 by lines of a darker color ; these are very obvious upon the 

 plates of the posterior portion of the body ; much less distinct 

 upon the plates in front of the dorsal fin. Length of the head, 

 from the extremity of the snout to the posterior angle of the 

 operculurn, nearly six lines : a depression between the eyes ; 

 and a ridge upon the occiput, which is continued on to the neck. 

 Operculurn pectinated ; or, appearing to the eye of a concholo- 

 gist, of the form of a Pinna ; small at the anterior inferior 

 portion ; quite broad at the posterior, rounded beneath and be- 

 hind, and covered with striae radiating from its circumference ; 

 the upper part of the operculurn of a dark brown color ; beneath 

 white ; its anterior portion marked by an oblique vitta passing 

 backwards and downwards from the posterior inferior angle of 

 the eye. Jaws tubular ; upper portion fuliginous ; beneath, 

 white. Greatest depth of the jaws, equal to about one third 

 the greatest depth of the head. Mouth opens obliquely ; 

 lower jaw slightly projecting ; the depth of the anterior por- 

 tion of the body at its middle, to the middle of the posterior 

 portion, as 3 to 1. 



The Dorsal fin commences at two-sixths the whole length 

 of the fish, with the anal aperture beneath its middle ; fin one 

 line longer than the head ; length of the last rays to the length 

 of the fin, as 2 to 9 ; length of the rays rather less than the 

 greatest depth of the body. Color of this fin a light brown, 

 with black vertical bands. 

 No Anal fin can be perceived. 



The only description I have met with, answering at all TO 

 the species before me, is that drawn up by Dclaroche, in the 

 13th vol. of the " Annales du Museum" accompanied by a 

 beautiful figure, under the name of " Sy'ngnathus Rondeletii," 



