276 



OSMERUS. 



FoHM of Hie body lengthened, without spots. Two ranges of 

 pej)uialrd teelh in each palatine boue; only a few in front on tlie 

 voniei'. Eight rays in the gill membrane. The ventral fins opposite 

 the aulerior edge of the dorsal. 



8MELT. 



SPIRLING. 



Smelt, Eperlaniis Bonchletii, Willoughbt; p. 202, table N. 6. 



Eperlanus, JoNSTON. 



Osiuerud eperlanus, Linn^us. Cuvier. 



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



« « Jenins; Manual, p. 429. 



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



SaliHO eperlanus marinus, Bloch; pi. 28. Donovan; pi. 48. 



This fish should be distinguished from the Atherine, which 

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

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

 niarks, the existence of an adipose fin on the back, in place 

 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 

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

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

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

 from he mine, its derivation being from the appearance of 

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

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

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

 from which perhaps we obtain our other English designation 



