de 
468 Storer on the 
Lora. Cuv. 
' Generic characters. In addition to the elongated 
o body, with two dorsal fins and one anal fin, pos- 
sessed by the species of Merlucius last described, 
may be added, chin with one or more barbules. 
L. compressa. Le Sueur. The Eel Pout. 
Journal Academy Nat. Sciences, vol. i. p. 84. 
This species was described by Le Sueur as being 
received. from Northampton. The only specimen 
I have been able to see was sent me from Keene, 
N. H. Taken as it was in the Ashuelot river, one 
of the tributaries of the Connecticut, I do not hesi- 
tate to draw my description from it, rather than 
use that of Le Sueur. My specimen presents the 
following characters. Color of the back and sides 4 
yellowish brown, variegated with darker brown 
Spots; the gill-covers and snout much darker than 
the remainder of the body. Abdomen whitish. 
Length six inches; length of the head -one inch; 
body in front of the first dorsal, cylindrical, begin- 
ning to be compressed at the sides at the extrem- 
ity of the pectorals, gradually becoming more $0 
towards the tail, so that the caudal rays appear a 
membranous prolongation of the body. The entire 
surface of the body is covered with very minute 
scales, looking like cup-shaped depressions. The 
lateral line arises above the operculum, and, quite 
conspicuous, extends in a straight course to the mid- 
dle of the fleshy portion of the tail. Head very 
