56 FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



ing, and sometimes is found about the wharf logs in our har- 

 bor." 



Of the specimens lying before me, the largest is eight inches 

 in length. Body oblong, compressed upon sides ; back arch- 

 ing abruptly over the eyes ; of a bluish white upon sides, look- 

 ing as if covered with black dots, owing to the dark outline of 

 the scales ; body beneath, of a dull white color. (In the 

 smallest specimen, which must be quite a young fish, the color 

 is a dark brown, variegated with yellow patches.) Head, one 

 fourth the length of body ; diameter of eye, one fourth the 

 length of head. A bony ridge over eyes. Operculum large, 

 naked, of a horny texture, margined by a membrane. Preo- 

 perculum strongly serrated throughout. A depression upon 

 top of head, between eyes ; distance between eyes, rather 

 greater than diameter of eye. Nostrils directly in front of 

 eyes ; the posterior, much the larger. The upper jaw at snout 

 descends abruptly ; jaws of equal length, with small, sharp 

 teeth. The lateral liiie commences high above operculum, 

 and curving over pectorals to their extremities, pursues a 

 straight course to tail. 



The Dorsal fin commences back of a line opposite posterior 

 angle of operculum, and is continued to fleshy portion of tail. 

 Seven spines precede the fleshy rays of the dorsal ; the poste- 

 rior is connected, throughout almost its entire height, to the 

 membrane of the dorsal ; the preceding ones are nearly free, or 

 rather have a membrane attached to their lower portion, but 

 which does not pass high up the spines. 



The Pectorals are beneath the posterior angle of the opercu- 

 lum ; less than one third as long as high, of a dark brown 

 color. 



The Ventrals are one fourth of an inch long ; their outer ray, 

 spinous. 



The Anal fin arises just in the middle of the body, and is 

 nearly as long again as high ; color of the dorsal. This fin is 

 preceded by three spinous rays, the first of which is free. 



The Caudal fin is quite deeply lunated. 



