14 FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



between eyes and extremity of snout, in the membranous divi- 

 sion between the bony plates. Jaws armed with very nume- 

 rous small teeth: upper jaw projecting beyond the lower. 

 Tongue colorless, fleshy, naked. A strong ridge upon hume- 

 ral bone serrated on its under edge, terminating in a naked spine. 



The first Dorsal fin arises on a line with the termination of 

 the occipital spines — is situated in a groove which partially 

 receives it, when closed — light colored, with a black blotch 

 upon the upper portion of the membrane between the fourth 

 and fifth rays : first ray spinous, and serrated upon its entire 

 front : second and third serrated at their upper anterior portion : 

 third and fourth rays longest. Fin one third longer than high. 



The second Dorsal is one third longer than the first. 



The Pectoral fins are one third the length of the body — 

 nearly black, with very numerous narrow transverse bars. 

 On a line with the base of the pectorals, beneath them, three 

 fleshy appendages are seen, somewhat similar in their appear- 

 ance to the fin rays : the upper, which is the longest, is half 

 the length of the pectorals. 



The Ventrals are situated beneath the pectorals — white : 

 their longest rays are equal to two thirds the length of the 

 pectorals. The first ray shortest, spinous. 



The Anal fin equal in length to second dorsal. 



The Caudal fin is nearly straight at its extremity. 



The fin rays are as follows : D. 9-13 ; P. 12 ; V. 6 ; A. 11 ; 

 C. 15. 



P. Carolinus. Cuv. The Weh-jingered Grunter. 



Trans. Lit. et Philosoph. Soc. — p. 431, et fig. 

 Cuv. el Valenc. Hist. Nat. des Poiss. t. iv. p. 90. 



Under the name of Trigla palmipes, this pretty species is 

 described and figured by Mitchell, in his ^^ Fishes of New 

 York.^'' I have seen but one specimen, for which I am in- 

 debted to Dr. Yale. This specimen, as it lies before me, pre- 

 sents the following characters : 



