SKIPPER. 145 



the head an upward direction with a slight effort when swimming 

 in haste; the rays thirteen or fourteen. Dorsal and anal fins 

 far behind, and opposite, eleven or twelve rays in each; ventral 

 fins a considerable distance before the vent and anal fin, with 

 eight rays ; and behind the dorsal and anal fins are finlets, which, 

 vary from five to seven in number; tail forked. The scales 

 are easily lost, and then the skin appears more or less of a 

 deep green; but when unhurt the back is a fine blue, the 

 belly silvery tinged with blue; and from the upper line of the 

 gill-covers to the tail there passes a broad line of silvery white. 



