Fishes of Massüchustll. 321 
nearly white beneath. A brown blotch upon poste- 
rior portion of operculum. All the fins red. Length 
of the head, from tip of lower jaw when closed, to 
posterior angle of operculum, one third the length of 
the fish ; top of head, flattened. Operculum armed 
with two spines. Suboperculum and interopercu- 
lum, have each one spine: posterior edge of oper- 
culum has five spinous processes. Supra scapular 
and subscapular bone, have each one spine ; a sec- 
ond, scarcely perceptible spine upon supra scapular 
bone: two spines upon suborbitar bone: a small, 
exceedingly sharp pointed spine on each side of 
base of intermaxillary bones. Four spines upon 
upper orbitar edge ; one, at upper anterior angle of 
eye ; a second, with its base continued along the 
greater portion of upper edge; and two smaller ones, 
behind. A very minute spine upon the lower orbi- 
tar edge, beneath centre of eye—and two spines pro- 
jecting backward upon occiput. yes very large ; 
pupils black; irides yellow : diameter of eye equal 
to one third length of head: distance between eyes 
equal to five eighths the diameter of the eye. Jaws 
armed with numerous, minute, sharp teeth: upper 
jaw very protractile—an emargination in its centre, 
into which the extremity of the lower jaw shuts, 
when the mouth is closed. Chin prominent. Teeth. 
in vomer and palatine bones. 
The lateral line arises above the operculum, and 
taking the eurve of the body, terminates at the cau- 
dal rays: about thirty-six sharp points are seen in 
the course of the lateral line. _ . 
- The Dorsal fin commences on a line with the up- 
VOL. III.—NO. II-IV. 
