60 



CxVLIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 



The mouth extremely large, with a pointed snout projecting beyond 

 it. The maxillary reaching backwards behind the eye nearly to the 

 gill opening. The Anchovies {Family Engraulidce) . Page 63. 



THE LADY-FISHES. 



{Famihj Alhididce.) 

 The Lady-fish (Albula vulpes). 



The body is nearly as wide as it is deep and the head is wedge-shaped 

 with a pointed snout that overhangs the small mouth. The top of 

 the head between the eyes is flat, and the sides are nearly vertical. The 

 maxillary does not reach back to opposite the eye. The eye is nearly 

 covered with a thickened, transparent membrane. This is a very 

 brilliant silvery tish, dark olive-brown on the back and with faint 

 streaks following the rows of scales. It reaches a length of 3 feet and 

 is common in tropical seas. On our coast it is not very uncommon in 

 San Diego Bay and has been taken as far north as IMonterey Bay. In 

 most localities it i.s little valued for food, though this is not always an 

 indication of the real food value of a fish. 



Fig. 35. The lady fish (Albula vulpes). 



The young of this fish pass through a metamorphosis. They are 

 for a time elongate, small-headed, band-shaped and composed of very 

 loose, colorless, transparent tissue, so clear as to be scarcely seen when 

 in the water. From this condition they become gradually shorter 

 and more compact, shrinking from 3^ inches in length to 2 inches. 

 Then commences their real growth and soon they assume the adult 

 form. In the Gulf of California where the lady-fish abounds, these 

 band-shaped young are often thrown on the beaches in great masses 

 by the waves. 



THE HERRINGS. 



( Fa m il ij C lupc idee . ) 



The Japanese Herring (Etrumeus microps.) 



This herring may be known from others of its family by the ventral 

 fns being entirely behind the dorsal, rather than partly or entirely 

 under it, and by the short base of the anal fin which is less in length 

 than the diameter of the eye. The head is a little longer than the 



