FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 137 



Diameter of the eye equal to one sixth the length of the head ; 

 pupils black, irides silvery ; distance between the eyes nearly 

 one half greater than the diameter of the eye. Extremity of 

 the upper jaw, maxillary bones, and lower jaw, destitute of 

 scales. The lateral line commences at a distance above the 

 pectorals, equal to the length of the pectorals, and runs on in 

 a straight line to opposite the thirty-second dorsal ray, then 

 making a gentle curve downwards, passes on again in a straight 

 course to the base of the caudal fin. 



The Dorsal fin commences at a distance back of the pecto- 

 rals, equal to about half the length of the head, and terminates 

 just in front of rhe tail. 



The Pectorals are about half the length of the head, round 

 at the extremities, and as high again as long. 



The Ventrals are situated just in front of the pectorals, of 

 the same length as those fins, fleshy, and similar in color to 

 the head. 



The Anal fin, which is nine inches in length, is continued 

 to the tail, and nearly joins it. Anus, two thirds of an inch in 

 front of the anal fin. 



The Caudal fin is round, and like the dorsal and anal fins, 

 is margined with blue, and edged with white. 



The fin rays are : D. 96 ; P. 23 ; V. 5 ; A. 73 : C. 35. 



In a specimen Aveighing twenty pounds, the color is brown 

 upon the back, with yellowish sides and white abdomen. In 

 this large specimen the lateral line is very indistinct ; the ven- 

 trals are yellow ; and the unal and dorsal fins do not extend 

 so near the tail as in the smaller. 



From an examination of a young specimen, this species 

 might be considered as distinct from the European fish. A care- 

 ful study of all its characters, however, must settle conclusively 

 its identity. The difference between the number of the dorsal 

 and anal rays of that species, as described in the works on 

 ichthyology, and of the fish in our waters, arises undoubtedly 

 from the great difficulty of counting them with accuracy, en- 

 veloped as they all are by a thick, fleshy membrane. 

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