CLASS PISCES. 227 



branchiae ; the stomach has no cul-de-sac, and their 

 duodenum no ccecal appendages. The transverse 

 processes of the last abdominal vertebrae are bent, 

 and thus form a little cone or cornet, which re- 

 ceives the point of the natatory bladder. These 

 little fishes are highly esteemed for the delicacy of 

 their flesh. The young ones remain for a long time 

 in crowded troops, and are consumed on the coast of 

 the Mediterranean under the name of Nonnat, the 

 Aphyes of the ancients. Several species inhabit the 

 European seas, hitherto confounded under the name 

 Ath. hepsetus, L. 



Ath. hepsetus, Cuv. ' ; Sauclet of Languedoc, or Ca- 

 bassous of Provence ; Rondel. 216; Duham. sect. vi. 

 pi. iv. f. 3. The head somewhat pointed ; nine spinous 

 rays in the first dorsal, eleven soft ones in the second, 

 and twelve in the anal ; fifty-five vertebrae in the 

 skeleton. 



Ath. Boyer, Risso; Joel, or Cabassouda, Rondel. 

 217. The head broader and shorter, the eye larger; 

 seven spines in the first dorsal, eleven rays in the 

 second, thirteen in the anal ; forty-four vertebrae 

 in the skeleton. 



Ath. moclion, Cuv. The form of the sauclet ; but 

 there are seven spines in the first dorsal, fifteen soft 

 rays in the anal, and forty-six vertebrae. 



Ath. presbyter;, Cuv. ; the Pretre, Abusseau, &c. 



1 This is probably the especial type of the hepsetus of Linnaeus. 

 It is necessary to observe that the figure called Ather'ma hepsetus, 

 Bl. pi. cccxciii. f. 3. and Syst. pi. xxix. f. 2. is purely ideal. 



q2 



