5SS ORDER MALACOPTERYGII APODES. 



The muzzle of these fishes is sharp ; their upper jaw 

 susceptible of extension, and the lower one longer 

 than the other when in a state of repose. Their 

 stomach is pointed, and fleshy ; they have neither 

 cceca nor natatory bladder, and they remain in the 

 sand, where they are taken when the sea retires. 

 They live on worms which they find there. 



Our coasts produce two species, a long time con- 

 founded under the common name of Ammodytes tobi- 

 anus, L., but which have been recently distinguished \ 



Ammodytes tobianus, Bl. 75. 2. Ray. I. Synop. iii. 

 f. 12. Which has the lower jaw more pointed, the 

 maxillaries longer, the pedicles of the intermaxillaries 

 very short, and in which the dorsal only commences 

 opposite the end of the pectorals : and 



Amm. lancea, Cuv., Penn. Brit. Zool. pi. xxv. f. 66. 

 Whose maxillaries are shorter, the pedicle of the inter- 

 maxillaries longer, and the dorsal commences opposite 

 the middle of the pectorals. It is thicker in pro- 

 portion. 



Both are common on all our coasts ; from eight to 

 ten inches in length ; of a silvery grey. They are 

 good eating, and are also sometimes employed as bait. 



1 It is to M. Lesauvage, a skilful physician of Caen, that we are 

 indebted for this distinction, but he has transposed the name of 

 Tobianus. See Bullet, des Sc. Sept. 1824, p. 141. It will be ne- 

 cessary to examine whether Ammodytes dcercllus, Raiin., Caratt. 

 pi. ix. f. 4. is different from Tobianus. 



