FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 159 



and a half; from the tip of the lower jaio to the anal fin, ten 

 and a half inches ; at the commencement of the dorsal fin, 

 the circumference of the body, is three inches five lines ; width 

 of the body over the pectorals, one inch two lines ; pupil of the 

 eye black, iris golden ; width between the eyes, four lines. 

 Lateral line, indistinct. 



M. argentea. From the tip of the snout to the base of 

 the pectorals, seven and a half inches ; body, back of the head, 

 at the commencement, of the pectorals, three and a half inches 

 in circumference ; three inches around the head, one and half 

 inches from the snout ; circumference of the head in front of 

 the eyes, one inch four lines ; from the tip of the lower jaw 

 to the anal fin nine inches six lines ; circumference of the 

 body at the origin of the dorsal fin, three inches six lines ; 

 width of the body over the pectorals seven lines ; width be- 

 tween the eyes, three lines. Lateral line, exceedingly dis- 

 tinct, appearing to divide equally the darker cobred back from 

 the beautiful lighter silvery abdomen. For the extent of six 

 inches in front of the anal orifice, a well marked line or furrow 

 resembling in appearance the lateral line. 



Family II. 

 ANGUILLIDAE. 



Ammodytes. Lin. 



Generic characters. Head and body elongated ; gill-open- 

 ings large ; dorsal fin extending nearly the whole length of 

 the back ; anal fin of considerable length ; dorsal and anal 

 fins separated from the caudal fin. 



A. tobianus. Bloch. The Sand Eel. 

 Yarrell's British Fishes, vol. ii. p. 317, et fig. 



Richardson in his " Fauna B or eali- Americana," observes, 

 that as neither Pennant nor Mitchell has described the species 

 of " Ammodytes" which they severally notice as being found 



