ATHERINE. 217 



in eight feet water, among the timber floating on the 

 side of tlie harbour nearest the dock-yard. Pounded crabs 

 sprinkled over the net as bait is the attraction ; and 

 the net is occasionally raised gently to the surface. In 

 this way five or six dozen are obtained during the flood- 

 tide. 



The Atherine is a handsome small fish, from five to 

 six inches long, but very rarely brought to the London 

 market. It spawns in May or June. 



The number of fin-rays are — 



1st D. 8 : 2nd D. 1+12 : P. 15 : V. 1+5 : A. 1 + 14 : C. 17 : Vertebraj, 50. 



The length of the head, from the point of the under jaw 

 to the edge of the operculum, compared to the length of 

 the body and tail, is as one to four ; the depth of the body 

 not quite equal to the length of the head ; a silver-coloured 

 band, half as broad as the space above it, and one-third 

 as broad as the space below it, passes from the upper edge 

 of the operculum and the base of the pectoral fin, to the 

 centre of the base of the tail ; four rows of scales above 

 the silver band, and six rows below it ; the band itself 

 occupying two rows. 



The form of the head rather short ; nose blunt ; upper 

 jaw capable of considerable protrusion ; lower jaw the longest 

 when the mouth is open ; one row of minute teeth along the 

 edge of each jaw : the eye large ; top of the head flat, with 

 a ridge descending on each side to the nose. 



The first dorsal fin commences about the length of the 

 head from the nape ; the second dorsal begins at the same 

 distance behind the origin of the first, and ends at the same 

 distance from the base of the caudal fin-rays ; the ventrals 

 originate, on a vertical line, with the ends of the pectoral 

 fin -rays, and the ventral and anal fins begin a little in ad- 



