Fishes of Massachusetts. 539 
A fine specimen before me, thirty-four inches in E: 
length, presents the following appearances: All the 
upper part of the body of a slate color, which is 
deeper upon the head ; lighter below the lateral line ; 
beneath, white; just under the lateral line, a row of 
circular white spots; a few similar spots irregularly 
distributed upon the back. Length of the head to 
the whole length of the fish, nearly as 4 to 9; the 
. head flattened above, tapering to a blunted snout. 
Byes horizontally elongated; their longest diameter 
nearly equal to one fourth the length of the head; 
pupils small, black ; irides silvery, with a cupreous 
tint. Orbit large, allowing great motion to the eye. 
The distance between the eyes equal to more than 
half the length of the head. Between the eyes, two 
longitudinal patehes of numerous mucous glands, 
which are indistinctly continued nearly to thé ex- 
tremity of the snout. Temporal orifices back of the 
eye, and just above the line of the eye ; their length E 
is equal to the short diameter of the eye. All the 
lower portien of the head in front of the mouth 
sprinkled over with mucous orifices, which, like 
those between the eyes, exude, when pressed, a 
gelatinous secretion. Nostrils double. Mouth large; 
when expanded, nearly circular. In the upper jaw, 
three rows of teeth; in the lower jaw, B. or 
* 
are turned Satvardiy from the | ce 
Branchial orifices five, „directly i 3 
torals. Lateral lina. quii e high t up on the back, and 
running nearly a straigh course to the caudal rays. g 
The first Dorsal fin d the anterior third ET 
ces 
s 
Ei 
