SAND-EEL. 427 



a line by a Cornish fisherman had a small fish of its own 

 species in its stomach. Both species occur on the sandy 

 parts of the coast of Sussex, Hampshire, Dorsetshire, and 

 Devonshire. 



Mr. Thompson has recorded the Sand-Eel as taken in the 

 North of Ireland. A species of Ammodj/tes is taken at 

 Newfoundland and at New York, but what species it is 

 remains uncertain ; Dr. Storer has, however, obtained the 

 Sand-Eel, A. Tobianus, in two localities near Boston. 



From the extreme point of the lower jaw to the posterior 

 end of the gill-cover is to the whole length of the fish as 

 one to four and a half; the depth of the body rather less 

 than one-third of the length of the head ; the lower jaw 

 very much elongated, with a strong, indurated projection 

 at the extreme tip ; the upper jaw much shorter than the 

 lower, with a strong forked tooth of two points descending 

 from the vomer ; the nostrils double ; both open on each 

 side on a line, one before the other, about half-way between 

 the eye and the point of the nose : the eyes rather small ; the 

 posterior margin exactly half-way between the point of the 

 under jaw and the posterior angle of the gill-cover : the shape 

 of the body very nearly round ; covered with small scales : 

 the pectoral fin arises under the posterior angle of the gill- 

 cover, its length one-third that of the length of the head ; the 

 dorsal fin placed in a groove, with a prominent line extending 

 along each side ; the rays commence in a vertical line over the 

 end of the pectoral fin-rays, and end near the tail ; the lateral 

 line indented and straight ; the abdomen with three indented 

 parallel lines extending to the anal aperture, which has an- 

 other orifice behind it ; along the whole line of the lower part 

 of each side extends a narrow and slender membrane attached 

 by one edge ; the anal fin is about one-third of the whole 

 length of the fish, ending short of the caudal fin, and nearly 

 on the same plane as the dorsal fin ; the tail forked. 



