368 iiisTORT or the fishes of Massachusetts. 



remainder are of a uniform height, to the fleshy portion of the tail. It is stout and 

 rounded, ending abruptly. 



The pectorals arise just beneath the posterior angle of the operculum ; they are 



rounded posteriorly. 



The Yentrals are composed of a single ray, bifurcated at their lower third ; the 



outer portion being the shorter. 



The anal fin arises at the posterior extremity of the longer portion of the ventral ray, 

 and about opposite the tenth dorsal ray, on a line with which fin it terminates. The 

 first four or five rays of this fin are the shortest. 



The caudal fin is slightly expanded and nearly straight at its extremity. 



The fin rays are as follows : — D. 10, 60. P. 16. V. 1. A: 55. C. 18. 



Length, seventeen inches. 



Eemarks, This species is known by the fishermen of Massachusetts Bay as the 

 '' Squirrel-Hake." It seldom exceeds two pounds in weight, wdrile the P. Americamis, 

 when full grown, often weighs more than thirty pounds. 



GENUS VII. BEOSMIUS, Cuv. 



Body elongated ; a single dorsal fin extending the whole length of the back. One 

 barbel at the chin. Ventral fins fleshy. 



Beosmius flayescens, Lesueur. 



The Cusk 



(Plate XXIX. Fio. 2.) 



Le BrosmejawiBi Brosmius flavescens, LESiiEtrR, M^moires du Museum, v. p. 158, pi. 16. 

 Gadiis {Biosmius)Jlavescens, Lesueur, Yellow Tusk, Eich, Fauna Boreal. Americ , iii. p. 252 

 Biosmtus vulgaris^ Cuv., Ouslj Stoeee, Eeport, p. 136. 



" " ('2), CusJc^ Dekat, Eeport, p. 289. 



Brosmius flavescens, LesueuRj Stoueb, Mem. Amer. Acad, New Series, n p. 473. 



" " Storeb, Synopsis, p. 221 



Color. The back is of a brownish color in the larger specimens ; the sides yellowish, 

 and sometimes of a decided yellow ; frequently^ in very large specimens, the fish is 

 whitish, with bi:ownish patches, appearing as if abraded; beneath, white. In the 

 smaller specimens, the body is of a uniform dark-slate color in some specimens ; while 

 in others six or eight transyexse yellow bands are seen. The dorsal, anal, and caudal 



