Fishes of Massachusetts. 447 
scaly shield at the base of the pectorals covers more 
than half an inch of their inferior edge. 
The Ventrals commence on a line opposite the or- 
igin of the dorsal fin; on each side of them is an 
axillary plate. 
The Anal fin commences some distance back of 
the dorsal; its height to its length is as 1 to 3. 
The Caudal fin is deeply forked ; the depth of the 
fin at the base, when unexpanded, to the length of 
the outer rays, is as 1 to 3; the distance between the 
expanded extremities equal to the length of the 
outer rays. 
The fin zeysare: D. 19; P. 15; V. 7; A. 20; 
27. 
