GEEY MULLETS. 501 



coast of France call these newly liatclied Atlierines " Nonnat " 

 (nnboni). Some thirty species are known, of which A. pres- 

 hyter and A. hoycri occur on the British coast. 



Atherinichthys, distinguished from Atherhia in having the 

 snout more or less produced ; and the cleft of the mouth gene- 

 rally does not extend to the orbit. 



These Atlierines are especially abundant on the coasts 

 and in the fresh waters of Australia and South America. Of 

 the twenty species known, several attain a length of eighteen 

 inches and a weight of more than a pound. All are highly 

 esteemed as food ; but the most celel)rated is the " Pesce 

 Eey " of Chile {A. laf.iclavia). 



Tetragonurus. — Body rather elongate, covered with strongly 

 keeled and striated scales. The first dorsal fin is composed of 

 numerous feeble spiiies, and continued on to the second. Lower 

 jaw elevated, with convex dental margin, and armed with com- 

 pressed, triangular, rather small teeth, in a single series. 



This very remarkable fish is more frequently met with in 

 the Mediterranean than in the Atlantic, but generally scarce. 

 Nothing is known of its habits ; when young it is one of the 

 fishes which accompany Medusa3, and, therefore, it must be 

 regarded as a pelagic form. Probably, at a later period of its 

 life, it descends to greater depths, coming to the surface at 

 night only. It grows to a length of eighteen inches. 



Third Fa:\iily — Mugilid^. 



Body more or less ohlong and compressed, covered ivith cycloid 

 scales of moderate size ; lateral line none. Cleft of the month 

 narrow or of moderate width, without or loith feeble teeth. Eye 

 later cd, of moderate size. Gill-opening wide. The anterior 

 dorsal fin composed of four stiff sjnnes. Vertebrce tiuenty-four. 



The " Grey Midlets " inhabit in numerous species and in 

 great numbers the coasts of the temperate and tropical 



