SILVERY HAIRTAIL. 209 



front are the smallest, except that there are two on each side 

 of the upper jaw long and curved with a slight barb, and two 

 or three rather longer than the others on the lower jaw : the 

 vomer is without teeth, but the palatine bones have each a 

 row of very minute teeth, more easily felt than seen ; tongue 

 long, pointed, free, and perfectly smooth : the edge of the 

 preoperculum forms a half-circle. 



The pectoral fin is small, not so long as the body of the 

 fish is deep, the second and third rays the longest, eleven 

 rays in all ; no vestige of ventrals : the dorsal fin commences 

 on a line with the superior angle of the operculum, the rays 

 uniform in height throughout the greater part of its length, 

 diminishing towards the end : the anal orifice at one-third of 

 the length of the fish from the head ; behind it are numerous 

 small spiny points, to the number of one hundred and fifteen, 

 or one hundred and eighteen. No scales on the body visi- 

 ble ; the skin covered with a delicate silvery membrane : the 

 lateral line, commencing at the upper edge of the operculum, 

 descends to the line of the lower third of the body, and 

 follows that parallel to its termination. 



The colour of the fish a bright and shining silver : the fins 

 greyish yellow ; the edge of the dorsal speckled with black, 

 forming a spot between the first rays : the hides golden. 



VOL. I. 



