FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 13& 



lighter. Length of the head to the body, exclusive of the tail, 

 as 9 to 32 ; depth of the body in front of the pectorals, six 

 inches ; depth across from the anus, exclusive of the dorsal fin, 

 five inches ; depth of the body beyond the termination of the 

 dorsal and anal fins, one inch and a half. Top of the head 

 flattened ; sides somewhat compressed ; eyes large, prominent ; 

 pupils black ; irides silvery ; diameter of the eye one inch and 

 a half; distance between the eyes equal to about one fourth 

 the length of the head ; upper jaio projects beyond the lower ; 

 both jaws are armed with several rows of sharp, incurved 

 teeth ; tongue large and fleshy ; a very minute barbule at the 

 chin. The lateral line, which is quite obvious, commences 

 above and just anterior to the posterior angle of the operculum, 

 and continues nearly a straight course to the tail, being near 

 the back throughout its whole extent. 



The first Dorsal fin commences an inch back of the pecto- 

 rals ; its third ray is higher than the length of the fin, and is 

 the longest ray. 



The second Dorsal fin, which commences just back of the 

 first, has its first rays longest ; they gradually disappear as they 

 approach the tail. This fin docs not extend quite to the tail. 



The Pectorals commence just back of the posterior angle of 

 the operculum ; their length is to their greatest depth as 5 to 20. 



The Yentrals commence at a point just half way between 

 the base of the pectorals and the angle of the lower jaw ; com- 

 posed of a single ray, which bifurcates about its middle ; one 

 of its divisions much larger than the other. 



The Anal fin arises some distance back of the second dorsal, 

 and terminates on the same plane with that fin ; the ten or 

 eleven first rays of this fin are the largest ; they diminish as 

 the fin approaches the extremity of the fish ; this fin, as a 

 whole, is not as high as the opposite dorsal. 



The Caudal fin, in its length, from the extremity of the lat- 

 eral line, is to its Avidth at the extremity as 3 to 5. 



The fin rays are ; D. 10-54 ; P. 17 ; V. 1 ; A. 48 ; C. 21. 



