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Fishes of Massachusetts. di. Le d E. dg 
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# date. 
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June 25th, 1839. By the S T" my friend | 
Samuel Cabot, Jr, I have r a living male 
specimen of this species. It was taken at the swim- 
ming school in this city ; and soon after its capture, 
numerous ova contained in its false pouches were 
hatched ; so that when I came in Pomona of it, 
one hundred and fifty. Mu about half an inch 
long, nearly colorless, with several narrow trans- 
verse black bands. From this specimen I am en- 
abled to give the natural appearances more correctly 
than could be done. fiim] a preserved fish. This 
specimen is 7 1-2 inches in length ; its general color 
is an olive brown with transverse darker colored 
blotehes or bars, thirteen of which are seen in front 
of the dorsal fin. The posterior portion of the body 
is darker colored than the anterior.  'The under 
surface of the body anterior to the vent, is of a beau- 
tiful golden yellow ; the portion back of the vent, 
for about two inches, is nearly white; this portion 
is much wider than the rest of the body, and pre- 
sents two membranous flaps, which approach each 
other at the median line, thus forming pouches, or a 
false belly, in which are contained the ova of the fe- — 
male; the under surface of the posterior portion of 
the body, of the same color as the upper. The upper 
portion of the operculum olive colored; the lower ; 
portion, golden yellow. Color of the snout brown, 
having a darker line running through its centre from 
the eye to the mouth. The eyes are prominent and 
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