250 PISHES. 



STJB-OBDEB. -PEECESOCES. 



(The Silversides.) 



FAMILY XCIX. ATHERINID^E. 



(The Silversides.) 



Body elongated, more or less compressed, covered 

 with rather small cycloid scales; sides with a bright, 

 distinct silvery band in all known species; dorsal spines 

 flexible and feeble; teeth small, numerous. Small, car- 

 nivorous fishes of warm regions, usually swimming in 

 schools near the shore; a few species in permanently 

 fresh water. Genera about five; species forty -five. 

 Besides the following strictly inland species, the common 

 Dotted Silverside [Chirostoma notatum (Mitch.) Gill] 

 ascends rivers from the sea. 



* Mouth v.ery oblique ; the upper jaw plane above, concave within ; 

 the lower jaw correspondingly convex, the protractile inter- 

 rnaxillaries forming a peculiar roof-like beak. 



LABIDESTHES, 1. 



/. LABIDESTHES, Cope. RIVER SILVERSIDES. 



1. L sicculus, Cope. SILVER SKIP -JACK. RIVER 

 SILVERSIDE. Depth 6 in length; head 4J; eye 3^ in 

 head; anal long, nearly one-third of length of body; 

 scales small; pale olive, translucent, dotted with black, 

 the silver lateral band very distinct; D. IV 11; 

 A. I, 23; lat. 1. 75; length 3 to 4 inches. Western 

 streams and ponds, Mich, to Ills, and Tenn.; abundant 

 where found, but not noticed till comparatively lately. 

 A very slender and elegant species of delicate organism. 

 The peculiar " duck-like muzzle " is said to resemble 

 that of some Cyprinodonts, especially the Central 

 American Belonesox. 



