Fishes of M assachusetts. 441 
from either extremity of the fish, the eye being 
placed on a line with the fish. Length of the 
fish to its width, about as 4 to 1; length of the 
head to the entire length of the body as 2 to 12. 
Depth of the body, in a specimen twelve inches 
long, across the anterior base of the dorsal fin, three 
inches; across the base of the pectorals, two and 
a half inches; across the anus, two inches. Head 
small; opercula golden, and marked with beautiful 
arborescent ramifications. yes large ; pupils black ; 
irides silvery. Mouth very large. Lower jaw 
slightly longer than the upper; upper jaw notched 
in its centre. Just back of the upper posterior angle 
of the operculum, a deep black blotch. Scales on 
the body very large and deciduous. The whole 
of the abdominal edge strongly serrated by projecting 
bony spines; these serrations are larger, back of the 
ventrals, between them and the anus. 
The height of the Dorsal fin equal to its length. 
The width of the Pectorals at base, to the length 
of the fin, as 4 to 12. 
The Ventrals darker colored than the abdomen, 
and of a moderate size. 
The height of the first rays of the Anal fin to 
the length of the fin, as 5 to 15. 
The Caudal fin deeply notched; width at the 
base when unexpanded, to the width at the extre- 
mities, as 1 to 2. f 
The fin rays are as follows: D. 17; P. 15; V. 
9; A. 18; C. 21. 
VOL. IHL.—NO. III—IV, 38 
