FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 81 



ing that of the opposite side, runs a straight course an inch and 

 a half; then passes down upon the side. At first, this line is 

 quite indistinct, but more prominent towards the posterior half 

 of the body ; it becomes a sensible ridge, which, back of the 

 dorsal, is quite strongly serrated. Abdomen lighter colored 

 than the back : throat white. Entire length of the head, from 

 the tip of the snout to the posterior extremity of the intermax- 

 illaries, nine inches. Tube of a hard, horny consistence, 

 strongly serrated laterally upon its upper portion, and less dis- 

 tinctly above and beneath : wider than deep : width just in 

 front of the eyes, three quarters of an inch ; at the angle of the 

 jaws, half an inch. Vertical gape of the mouth, half an inch : 

 jaws armed with numerous small teeth ; lower jaw longer than 

 the upper, with a protuberance at the chin. Gill-covers per- 

 fectly smooth, with a serrated portion above them, three quar- 

 ters of an inch in extent. 



The Dorsal fin is triangular, same color as the abdomen ; 

 situated upon the posterior third of the body. 



The Pectorals are situated a quarter of an inch back of the 

 operculum ; their length to their height is about as 1 to 3. 



The Yentrals are two and a half inches back of the pectorals^ 

 very small ; half of an inch long ; color of the abdomen. 



The Anal, similar in form to the dorsal, is directly opposite 

 that fin. 



The Caudal is deeply forked, being nearly an inch wide 

 between the lobes at the extremities, wh«-n they are expanded. 

 Directly from the centre of this fin, as ^ it were a continuation 

 of the lateral line, proceeds a stro-^g filament nine inches in 

 length, jointed at its commencen>:Jnt like some of the Gorgo- 

 niae, which becomes exceedin^iy delicate at its termination. 

 From its base, another very tfiinute filament arises. 



The fin rays are as follows : D. 14 ; P. 16 ; Y. 6 ; A. 14; 

 C. 16. 



11 



