Fishes of Massachusetts. 375 
ton market. When young, its flesh is very sweet 
and palatable; I have repeatedly had it upon my 
table. 
I improve the opportunity presented by the pos- 
session of a fine specimen, taken at Provincetown, 
thirty-one inches in length, to draw up the following 
description : 
Color, a yellowish brown or fawn, sprinkled with 
darker patches; beneath, paler; the front and top of 
the head, of a livid color; the gill-covers lighter, but 
rather dull, having a distinct dirty white band nearly 
two lines in width, running obliquely from the under 
and outer angle of the eye to the posterior edge of 
the operculum. Whole surface of the fish, with the 
exception of the head, covered with innumerable mi- 
nute cup-like depressions. Head, large, resembling 
in its aspect that of a “ Cottus”; body gradually 
tapering, and terminating in a pointed tail. Length 
of the head to the whole length of the body as 1 to 5; 
width of the back of the head, greater than the 
greatest depth of the body. Upper lip projecting 
beyond the lower, very large and fleshy; projecting 
over the jaw nearly two thirds of an inch: under lip 
also quite fleshy, but much less so than the upper. 
Teeth in the jaws, large; those situated in the back 
of the jaw, sharper; a single row from the outer an- 
gle of the upper jaw the extent of four teeth; then 
a double row of three teeth; then, to the middle of 
the jaw, a row of three teeth deep; the front teeth 
of this triple row are the largest in the jaw. A single 
row of eight teeth from the outer angle of the lower 
jaw towards the middle; then a double row of from 
