BOIER S ATHERINE. 



bait was oiFered, it was seen that they would not notice it 

 until it was made to assume some of the actions of moving 

 life; and it was by doing this that a few examples were secured. 

 Seating myself on a projecting rock, near Avhich they were 

 passing, it was found that not one would come near it as 

 before, and it was only by close concealment and a fortunate 

 dip of a net that a few others were obtained. They continued 

 thus for a week, at the end of which they had disappeared, 

 and, although carefully looked for, they have not since been 

 seen. 



The examples then obtained were conveyed to London, and, 

 by examination of Cuvier's "History of Fishes," in the library 

 of Mr. Yarrell, no doubt existed that they answered to Boier's 

 Atherine of that work, and consequently of Risso, who first 

 gave it that distinctive name. The specimens, preserved in 

 spirit, were presented to Mr. Yarrell, but they are not found 

 in the collection of that gentleman now in the British Musemu. 



As the whole of those Avliich came under observation appeared 

 of one size, and those which were caught measured in length 

 about three inches, we may suppose this to be their usual 

 size; but it differs from the more common Atherine in the 

 proportionally larger eye, more projecting lower jaw, with the 

 dorsal fins nearer together. The colour in each was much 

 alike. According to Dr. Gunther the roe is in a single lobe, 

 as we have noticed in the last species. 



