403 CONTRIBUTIONS TO NORTH AMERICAN ICHTHYOLOGY IV. 



dark points. Scales small, smootli, and firm, closely imbricated, tbeir 

 edges crenate. Maxillary not reaching to pupil. Premaxillary very pro- 

 tractile, curved, its posterior portion broad. Lower jaw shorter- than 

 upper. First dorsal tin over front of anal, much nearer base of caudal 

 than snout. Eye equal to snout. Head4i; depth 5. D. Y-I, 9; A.I, 

 22 ; Lat. 1. 75. L. 5 inches. Coast of California; abundant in San Diego 

 Bay. 



{Atherinoims tenuis Ayres, Proc. Cal. Acad. Nat. Sci. 1830, 76.) 



19§.— I^ABHBJESTMES Cope. 

 (Cope, Proc. Amer. Phil. Soc. Phila. 1870, 435: typo Chirostoma siccuhim Cope.) 



This genus diiiers from 21enidia chietly in the i)rolongation of the jaws, 

 both of which are produced into a short depressed beak, {/.afic^, a pair 

 of forceps ; laOiu)^ to eat.) 



63r>. 1j. sicculus Cope. — Brool: Silvcrside; Sk'qijacJc. 



Pale olive- green, translucent; lateral silvery band very distinct, 

 scarcely broader than pupil, bounded above by a dark line ; back dotted 

 with black. Body elongate, very slender, compressed. Headlong, flat- 

 fish above, narrow below. Snout slender, conic. Premaxillaries broad 

 I)Osteriorly, very protractile, produced forwards, the snout longer than 

 the large eye. Edge of upper j aw strongly concave. Teeth very slender, 

 mostly in one series, forming a narrow band in front. Scales small, 

 thin, with entire edges. Spinous dorsal very small ; soft dorsal short. 

 Anal fin long; caudal forked ; i)ectorals moderate. First dorsal inserted 

 somewhat behind the vent. Head 4i; depth G; eye 3.^ in head. D. 

 IV-I, 11 ; A. I, 23 ; Lat. 1. 75. L. 3.^ inches. Ponds and sluggish 

 streams; I\Iichigan to Iowa and Tennes.see; locally abundant; a very 

 graceful little fish. 



{Chirostoma siccitlum Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pbila. 1865, 81 : Lahidesilics sicculus 

 Cope, Proc. Amer. Phil. Soc. Phila. 1870, 40.) 



199.— MErVflI>3A* Bouaparte. 



8Uversides. 



{Argijrea DcKay : Basilichtlujs Grd. : LahidesiJies Cojie.) 

 (Bonaparte, Fauiiaj Italica, about 1840: typo Atherina menidia L.) 



Body elongate, more or less compressed. Ilead oblong, compressed. 

 Mouth small, the gape curv^ed, very oblique, usually not reaching the eye; 



* Chirostoma Swaiuson, Classiii. Fishes, etc. 1839, 243 {^ Atherinoides 'BleekeT=: Athcri- 

 nichthysJileGkev ^=^ Ilvierognathus Grd., alltLcse nouiiual genera based on the same type, 

 Atherina humholdliana Cnv. &. Val., from Mexico), is distinguished from Menidia by the 

 very long and strong mandible which protrudes beyond the upper jaw. There arc u 

 few vomerine teeth, aud the picmaxillary is extremely X)rotractile. 



