Fishes of Massachusetts. 517 
branchial aperture. Operculum directly in front of 
the pectorals, three inches in its greatest diameter. 
The Dorsal and Anal fins are triangular, situated 
at the upper and lower posterior extremity of the 
fish. Length of the dorsal, 13 inches; length of the 
anal, 12 inches. Height of the dorsal, 21 inches; 
height of the anal, 21 inches. 
'The Caudal fin borders the extremity of the body, 
being connected with both the dorsal and anal fins ; 
its general color is similar to that of the inferior por- 
tion of the sides; its outer edge is flesh colored. It 
is scalloped or divided into digitations, about 8 in 
number, of which the upper are smaller, and the 
sixth the largest. A broad, nearly black band com- 
mences at the origin of the dorsal fin, and, running 
along its base, is continued in front of the caudal 
and anal fins i anus; this band is lighter col- 
ored along the base of the anal, and here it is also 
narrower, being about the same depth as at the 
dorsal ; but along the base of the caudal it is consid- 
rably deeper, even equal to the least height of this fin. 
< The Pectorals are in height 7 inches; length 4 
eas ; greatest width 64 inches. 
' The anus is large and corrugated, situated two 
2s in front of the anal fin. Directly in front of 
the anus commences a very obvious carina, which 
is continued until opposite the origin of the pecto- 
rals. The very dense texture of the fins renders it 
almost impossible to determine with accuracy the 
number of their rays. As nearly as I have been 
able to distinguish them, they are as follows: 
D19; P-185.4.15; C. 9. 
