276 



OSMERUS. 



FoBM of the body lengthened, without spots. Two ranges of 

 separated teeth in each palatine bone; only a few in front on the 

 vomer. Eight rays in the gill membrane. The ventral fins opposite 

 the anterior edge of the dorsal. 



SMELT. 



SPIRLING. 



Smelt, Epnrloniis Eondeletii, Willoughby; p. 202, table N. 6. 



Eperlaniis, JoNSTON. 



Osmerus eperlanus, Linn^us. Cuvier. 



" " Fleming; Br. Animals, p. 181. 



" " Jenyns; Manual, p. 429. 



" Yarrell; Br. Fishes, vol. ii, p. 129. 



Suhno eperlanus 7nar!nus, Bloch; pi. 28. Donovan; pi. 48. 



This fish slioulcl be distinguislied from the Atherlne, which 

 in some parts of the kingdom bears the same name, and on 

 a casual view might be mistaken for' it; but, among other fe 



IV. arks, the existence of an adipose fin on the back, in place f 



of a larger second dorsal with rays, will readily distinguish 

 them. 



It has been supposed that the name ot Smelt was given 

 from a particular and agreeable odour that is perceptible when 

 tlie fish is newly taken from the water; but the true meaning 

 of the Avord is assigned by Jonston, and it is the same with 

 that which is used to signify the melting of metals (smelting) 

 from ihe mine, its derivation being from the appearance of 

 tiansparcncy of the substances of this fish, as if it had a 

 tendency to melt away. The French name, Eperlan, employed 

 by Rondeletius, to Mhich he gave a Latin termination, and 

 from which perhaps we obtain our other English designation 



f 



