THE MOON-EYES OR 



GOLDEN EVES 



THERE are only three species of moon- 

 eyes found in American waters, and but 

 one of them indigenous to the region 

 comprised in the western compass of 

 this work, — the Great Lakes and the Province of 

 Ontario. I have been informed, however, that 

 one of them is or has been found in some of the 

 larger waters of New England, doubtless in Lake 

 Champlain. All of these fishes are handsome, and 

 although but little valued as food, are choice quarry 

 for the angler, the favorite species sought by him 

 being known as the toothed herring, in addition to 

 its more common names of moon-eye and golden- 

 eye. It is technically known as Hiodon tergisus, the 

 first name being from the Greek, signifying "hyoid" 

 and "tooth;" the second from the Latin, tergisus, 

 "polished" or " scoured " (" hyoid " is the bone 

 shaped like the letter Y, forming the base of the 

 tongue). 



This fish may be recognized by the golden hue 

 of its big, bright eyes, hence its name, its shad-like 

 vol. ii. — 1 6 241 



