FAMILY CLUPIDjE ELOPS. 267 



longest, thence diminishing with a slight emargination to the last. It terminates about half 

 its length from the base of the caudal, and there is a series of scales running close along the 

 whole base of this fin. Caudal forked. 



Color. Uniform metallic silvery, with a slightly darker shade beneath ; bluish above. Pu- 

 pils black ; irides silvery. Fins light colored. 



Length, 7 - 0. Depth, 1*5. 



Fin rays, D. 15 ; P. 14 ; V. 7 ; A. 30 ; C. 19 a. 



Lesueur, to whom we are indebted for the first notice of this species and its congener, 

 seemed to be doubtful whether they were distinct. His opportunities were restricted, and 

 he saw but two specimens. The two species are now well established. The figure of this 

 species by Lesueur makes the dorsal deeply emarginated, and its base elevated and scaly. 



This species is common in Lake Erie. At Buffalo and Barcelona, it is called Moon-eye, 

 Shiner, and Lake Herring. 



(EXTRA-LIMITAL.) 



H. chrysopsis. (Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 3, p. 222, pi. 94.) With eleven dorsal and thirty-four 

 anal ravs. Length 16 inches. Northern Regions. 



GENUS ELOPS. Linneus. 



Jaws formed like those of the Herrings. Body cylindrical. The gill membrane with thirty 

 or more rays. Aflat spine on the upper and under edges of the caudal fin. 



THE SAURY. 



Elops saurus. 



PLATE XLI. FIG. 131. — (STATE COLLECTION.) 



Elops saurus. Linneus, Systema Nat. Ed. 12, p. 518. 



Smooth Elops, Elops inormis. Mitchill, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. Vol. 1, p. 445. 



Characteristics. Ventrals under the anterior part of the dorsal. 



Description. Body elongated, cylindrical, compressed towards the tail. Dorsal outline 

 gently arched before the dorsal fin, descending with a slope to the extremity of the upper jaw. 

 Scales moderate, orbicular, caducous, membranous on their free margins, with faint concen- 

 tric stria? ; radical surface with from eight to ten radiating folds, and festooned on the margin 

 (see figure). Lateral line formed by a series of tubular scales, arising above the upper angle 

 of the branchial aperture, and descending by a gentle concave sweep to the tail. Length of 

 the head to the total length as one to six nearly ; flattened above with a broad distinct and deep 

 furrow between the eyes. Orbits large, - 5 in diameter. Nostrils double, contiguous; the 



