bo "rd 
Y s 
Fishes of Massachusetts. ee 
The fin rays are as follows: B 3; D. 3, 25; 
Prl@; Y. 25:A:24; 0-1 
The specimens from which Le Sueur described 
this species, as being found at Egg Harbor, N. J., 
. were much smaller than those I have seen, being 
less than six inches: in some unimportant respects, 
his description differs from the appearance of my 
specimens, an account of which is here presented : 
the ichthyologist will at once perceive that they 
might very naturally be produced by difference of 
age and locality. 
FawmiLy XIV. 
LABROIDES. 
Lasnus. Lin. 
Generic characters. Body elongated, covered with 
large thin scales: a single dorsal fin, extending 
nearly the whole length of the back ; part of the rays 
spinous, the others flexible ; behind the point of each 
spinous ray a short membranous filament: lips 
large and fleshy ; teeth conspicuous, conical, sharp ; 
cheek and operculum covered with scales ; preoper- 
culum and — without serrations or spines. 
L. Americanus. Bloch. The Tautog. - quim 
Fish. 
; Lit. et Philosoph. Soc. EJ P. 399, et fig. 
Although a ve ew. years on y have passed 
$ since this species orought | dr to Massachusetts 
ps 
