Fishes of Massachusetts. 335 
uated next to them, one on each side, that may be 
considered as canine. The former are straight, the 
latter are rather turned inwards. Within, and be- 
yond these, two or three rows of round topped 
grinders, making a bony pavement as it were, inside 
of the mouth. No cirrhus or roughness of any kind 
on the head, neck or snout. Lower jaw shorter than 
the upper. Nostrils double. Eyes large, vertical, 
brown, and connected by a prominent brow. Head 
united to the body without any proper neck. Gill- 
covers broad and smooth; opening ample. From 
a scaly spot a little above the branchial aperture, 
proceeds a colored and curved streak to the withers. 
A single dorsal fin, strong and spinous, lowering into 
a deep furrow the greatest part of its course. The 
expanded tail measures six inches across, and is 
nearly concave, or almost lunated. A scaly process 
near the insertion of the ventral fin. Lateral line 
almost corresponds with the arch of the back, and 
radiates prettily on the scales over which it passes. 
General color of the sheep's head a white, or obscure 
silvery, with a smutty daubing over the face and 
chin, a greenish tinge above the brow, and six or 
seven dark bands or zones, of an inch or more in 
breadth, regularly slanting from back to belly; the 
latter a dull white, approaching in some places and 
individuals to cream color. Scales large, horny, 
distinguished by radiated and concentric lines, and 
somewhat like a square rounded a little at the cor- 
ners. ‘They are deeply inserted into the skin ; ad- 
here with remarkable firmness ; and when they are 
separated, there is discoverable, on the edges of the 
