Fishes of Massachusetts. 527 
above, slightly depressed between the eyes; the 
back part of the head terminates in a pointed plate. 
Snout, blunted. Eyes, small; pupils, black ; irides, 
yellow ; diameter of the eye, equal to one fifth the 
distance between the eyes. Nostrils double, situ- 
ated directly in front of the eyes, the inferior much 
the larger. The operculum consists of a single 
large plate with rays diverging from its centre. 
Mouth without teeth, situated on the under sur- 
face of the head, half as wide as long, capable of 
great protrusion; half way between the mouth and 
the extremity of the snout, are situated four cirrhi 
placed on a line across, nearly as long as the mouth. 
The Dorsal fin is situated at the posterior ex- 
tremity of the body ; the first rays are higher than 
the length of the fin. 
The Pectorals arise from a strong, triangular 
plate; the first ray is very large and strong; the 
seventh and eighth rays the longest; width of the 
fins at their base, less than half of their length. 
The Ventrals are placed far back, width at their 
base, equal to two thirds of their height. 
The length of the Anal fin is equal to half of its 
height; the last rays equal in height to one third 
the height of the longest rays. 
The Caudal fin is forked ; its upper lobe nearly 
double the length of the lower; the membranous 
Structure of this fin renders it extremely difficult 
to count the number of its rays with accuracy. 
The specimen I have described is evidently a 
young fish. My friend, Thomas A. Greene, Esq. of 
New Bedford, writes me from that place under date 
