Fishes of Massachusetts. 301 
it is one of our most beautiful species—vieing often- 
times in the brilliancy of its coloring with tropical 
fishes. 
The specimen before me, measures seven inches 
in length: length of head to outer angle of opercu- 
lum nearly two inches: depth of body, on a line 
with base of pectorals, three inches. General color 
greenish brown with spots of blue and yellow upon 
each scale: longitudinal, undulating deep blue lines 
across preoperculum and operculum, with rusty yel- 
low blotches interspersed. Scales upon body, large 
—smallest at base of fins. Head, between eyes, 
naked, and of a darker color than the body gen- 
erally. Nostrils double—anterior tubular: teeth in 
jaws very minute and sharp: upper jaw protractile. 
Eyes large, nearly half an inch in diameter. At 
posterior angle of operculum, a large black spot em- 
bracing a portion of the operculum, and a fleshy pro- 
longation having a bright scarlet colored margin. 
Just above this spot, arises the lateral line, which 
assumes the curve of the back, and is lost at the 
base of the tail. The back curves very gradually 
as far as the posterior extremity of the dorsal fin, 
then abruptly gives place to the fleshy portion of the 
tail. All the fins more or less colored with black. 
Length of the pectoral fins nearly two inches. 
Anus large, corrugated—two lines anterior to the 
anal fin. à 
The fim rays are as follows: D. 10-12; P. 13; 
V. 146; A. 3-10; C. 17. 
I am induced to believe, from the remarks of sev- 
eral anglers with whom 1 have conversed and cor- 
