F'ishes of Massachusetts. 453 
compared to the length of the body, with the excep- 
tion of the tail, rather more than one third; depth 
over the base of the pectorals rather more than one 
fifth the length of the body, without the tail; depth 
over the anus equal to one fifth the length of the 
body. Top of the head darker colored than the 
gill-covers. The pupils of the eye black ; irides a 
beautiful silvery. Diameter of the eye equal to one 
sixth the length of the head ; the distance between 
the eyes nearly equal to one third the length of the 
head; the distance of the extremity of the snout, 
from a line on a plane with the anterior angle of 
the eye, equal to one third thd length of the head. 
Nostrils double, posterior lower and larger; the up- 
per jaw projects beyond the lower ; in the lower jaw 
is a single row of teeth; those in the back part of 
the jaw, large, and incurved ; those in the fore part 
of the jaw much smaller; in the upper jaw a row 
of large teeth in the back part, with a row of minute 
teeth back of them ; approaching the middle of the 
jaw, a triple row is observed ; at the middle of the 
jaw, four distinct rows are seen; the front row uni- 
formly large, those behind very small. A single bar- 
bule about an inch long at the chin. he /ateral 
line commencing above the opereulum, makes a 
very gradual slope upwards, and as gradual a curve 
downwards, until opposite the anterior third of the 
second dorsal fin it commences a straight course 
which is continued to- the caudal fin; this line is 
lighter colored in its whole extent than the body, it 
is wider and more conspicuous after assuming a 
straight course. 
