SMELT. 163 



Yorkshire coast. Large quantities are taken by nets in the Humber, in the Yare of Norfolk, 

 where they grow to a large size, the estuary of the Thames, and the Medway. On the western 

 coasts they are found in the Solway Frith, the Mersey, Dee, the Conway, and Dublin Bay. 



I have no specimen before me as I write; I shall therefore give Dr. Giinther's description: 

 — "The height of the body is much less than the length of the head, which is one fourth or 

 two ninths of the total (without caudal). Snout produced, much longer than the diameter of 

 the eye; young examples have the eye comparatively larger. Vomerine teeth and anterior 

 lingual teeth large, fang-like ; posterior mandibulary teeth larger than the anterior ones, which 

 form a double series, the inner series containing stronger teeth than the outer one. The 

 maxillary extends to, or nearly to, the vertical from the hind margin of the orbit. Back 

 transparent greenish, sides silvery." 



The Smelt, which is the only British species belonging to this small genus, is found on 

 the coasts and fresh waters of North and Central Europe. 



The number of rays in the fins is 



Dorsal 11. 

 Pectoral 1 1 . 

 Ventral 8. 

 Anal 13 — 16. 



