280 Ayres' Enumeration of the 



hosioniensis has the precedence. The species appears very 

 closely allied to the acutirostris of Yarrell. I subjoin the fol- 

 lowing notes taken from a specimen seventeen inches in 

 length. Color above dark olive green ; below white some- 

 what stained with yellow. The greatest circumference of the 

 body, near the origin of the dorsal fin, is three inches. The 

 pectorals arise at 2 1-10 inches from the point of the lower 

 jaw ; the dorsal at 5 6-10 ; and the anal at 7 1-10. 



Is there not an error of the press in Dr. Storer's description 

 in substituting "pectorals" for ''dorsal?" "From the lip 

 of the snout to the base of the pectorals, eight inches" does 

 not seem to be in proper proportion to the length of the fish ; 

 but if in place of " pectorals " we insert the word " dorsal," 

 the proportion is perfect.* 



Ammodytes lancea. Cuv. 



The sand-launce is met with in the Sound from the first of 

 May to the first of November, and, during the early summer 

 months more particularly, no other species occurs in such 

 boundless numbers. They constitute for some months the 

 chief food of the hliie-Jish and the basse, and are also eaten 

 largely by eels, flat-fish, gurnards and indeed almost every 

 species which is of sufficient size to destroy them. During 

 the stay of the cuttle fish {Loligo iJlecebrosa) in the harbor, 

 which is only three or four weeks in May, they also afford a 

 large amount of food for them. They are indeed almost in 

 the condition of the flying fish within the tropics, exposed to 

 numerous enemies from beneath and to no less certain and 

 perhaps as continual danger from above. For the terns, 

 which frequent this shore in great numbers, derive their chief 

 and probably we may say sole support from these sand-launces, 

 during the two months that they remain with us before pro- 

 ceeding north to rear their young. This species, though of 

 no direct use to man, is yet of great importance in aflfording 



* Dr. Dekay has satisfied himself of the correctness of Dr. Storer's observations 

 upon this species by a personal examination of specimens in Boston market since 

 this paper was placed in the hands of the publishing committee. — Pub. Com. 



