310 HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



"be distinctly seen, at other times not more than one or two, upon the sides, extending 

 from the ^ill-covers ahiiost the whole length of the fish. At the base of the caudal fin, 

 just at the termination of the longitudinal bands, are three or more less distinct 

 transverse bands of a similar color. 



In the male, the sides and back are of a greenish-black ; the sides are crossed by 

 numerous slate-colored, nearly black, transverse bands, varying very much in their 

 number and width in different individuals, — some individuals exhibiting ten or twelve 

 bands only, while in others are observed twenty, or even more. In some specimens 

 these bands are of the same size throughout their whole length ; in others, they 

 diminish gradually from the centre to the sides towards the abdomen, upon which they 

 are lost. In some specimens these bands are less than the sixteenth of an inch wide ; 

 in others, they are quite the eighth of an inch. The lower portion of the sides, as 

 well as the abdomen, is of a beautiful yellowish-green color. The operculum is marked 

 by a large black spot ; the preoperculum is fuliginous, sometin^s cupreous. The 

 dorsal fin is violet-colored, with a black spot, circular in some individuals, upon the 

 centre of the posterior three or four rays ; anterior to this spot, in some of the larger 

 specimens, are three or four broken, dark-colored blotches. The pectorals are yel- 

 lowish. The ventrals are the color of the abdomen. The anal fin is almost green. 

 The caudal fin is orange-colored, margined at its extremity with black. In the dead 

 fish, the general color becomes much lighter, but the black spots upon the dorsal fin 

 and operculum remain. 



Description. Body elongated, slightly convex on the dorsum over the pectorals in 

 the female, nearly straight in the male. Greatest depth of the body, which is across 

 the pectorals, less than the length of the head. The head, which is equal in length 

 to one fourth of the entire length of the fish, is compressed above. The mouth is pro- 

 tractile, with numerous minute teeth in the jaws. The eyes are circular. 



The dorsal fin is situated uj)on the posterior half of the body. In the female, it is 

 nearly quadrangular ; in the male, the last rays are quite as high as the first, and the 

 extremities of the rays project beyond the connecting membrane. 



The pectorals are higher than the dorsal, and are rounded when expanded. 



The anal fin is higher than long ; in the female the rays of this fin gradually dimin- 

 ish in height posteriorly, while in the male the sixth and seventh rays are highest. 



The caudal fin is broad and rounded when expanded. 



The fin rays, in three specimens examined, were as follows : — 



D. 16. P. 16. V. 6. A. 11. a 19. 

 D. 15. P. 17. T. 6. A. 11. C. 20. 

 D. 14. P. 18. V- 6. A. 12. C. 18. 



