6fi ATHERTMD^ ME>7IDIA. 
407 
lower jaw short ; maxillaiy slipping entirely under pr* orbital; jaws each, 
with a band of simple, usually villiform teeth. Premaxillaries very freely 
protractile*, their spines comparatively long, nearly equal to the eye, 
extending backward beneath a fold of skin which connects the bases of 
the inaxillaries ; posterior ])art of premaxillaries broad. No teeth on 
vomer or palatines. Scales entire, or with the edges crenate orlaciuiate. 
Species numerous, of moderate or sm;ill size, some of them entering 
fresh waters. {Mcnidia, an old name of some small silveyy fish, from 
yy-TjvTj, the moon.) 
610. in. bosci (C. & Y.) J. & G. 
Clear transparent green; sides with a well-defined silvery band, f 
diameter of the eye ; back and chin with large, black dots. Eye large, 3)^ 
in head, a little longer than snout. Scales firm, their edges strongly 
crenate, those on the back laciniate. Upper jaw the longer. First dor- 
sal very feeble, over the beginning of the anal, rather nearer the tip of 
the caudal than the snout. Distance from first to second dorsal § length 
of head. Pectorals reaching ventrals, nearly as long as the head. 
Ventrals falling far short of the base of the first dorsal; second dorsal 
very short. Teeth short, even, forming a narrow villiform band. Head 
42 ; depth 5.1. D. IV-I, 5; A. 1, 22 ; scales 45-7. L. 5 inches. Atlantic 
Coast of the United States, chiefly southward; abundant. 
(Atherina menidia Linn. Syst. Nnt. : Atlicrina bosci Cnv. et Val. x, 465, 1835: Atherma 
menidia DeKay, New York Fauna, Fish. 142 : Aiheriniclithys menidia et notaia Gunther, 
iii, 406.) 
64 8. y?. vagB’aESS (Goode & Bean) J. & G. 
Silvery streak occupying the lower two-thirds of the third and the 
upper two-thirds of the fourth series of scales. Eye 3 in head, as long 
as lower jaw, greater than snout and less than interorbital width. Pre- 
maxillaries freely protractile ; teeth rather strong. Scales laciniate on 
the back, nearly entire laterally. First dorsal inserted opposite the 
space between the anal fin and the vent, nearer base of caudal than 
snout. Pectoral about as long as head. Caudal slightly forked, the 
lobes equal. Vertical fins excessively scaly. Head 5; depth fif D. 
V-I, 7; A. I, 18; scales 48-7. L. 4 inches. Virginia to Gulf of Mexico. 
{Chirostoma vagrans Goode & Bean, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 187U, 148.) 
642. Mo taoftafa (Mitch.) ,T. &. G. — Silverside. 
Transparent green, with a lateral silvery band half the wfldth of the 
* We have been able to verify this character on only a few of the foreign species. 
We are therefore uncertain whether the bulk of the species referred by Dr. Guuthet 
to “Alhcrinichtlnjs” belong to Menidia or to Athcrinojosis. 
