572 TEN YEAES IN SWEDEN. 



torals tipped with black ; lateral line straight as far as 

 the back of the head; irides golden yellow. Usual 

 length 12 in. to 14 in., but occasionally larger; height 

 one-third of the length. 



Is rare in these seas, except off Bohus Land, where it 

 is common, and called "sale.-" Is occasionally met with 

 on the south-west coast of Norway, but its northern limit 

 is not known. It is principally caught here from the 

 beginning of April to the end of May. According to 

 Ekstrom, spawns in May and June. The flesh is more palat- 

 able than any other of the flounders. 



APODES. VENTEALS WANTING. 



No ventral fins; body long, round, or compressed, 

 covered with a thick hide ; scales deeply embedded, scarcely 

 perceptible. 



Fam. 1. AMMODYTIDJE, Mull. 

 The long dorsal and anal fins distinct from the tail. 



Gen. Ammodytes, L. 



Body eel-like, round ; small scales in a thick skin ; snout 

 sharp ; caudal forked ; gill opening very large. 



All small fish, living on sandy shores, in which they bury 

 themselves. 



152. AMMODYTES TOBIANUS, L. Hvit Tobis. The Sand Eel. 



D. F. 



Under jaw much longer than the height of the body ; 

 dorsal commences directly over the end of the pectorals ; 

 crown of the head flat. Colour dark green above ; all 

 the rest silver white ; a dark spot on the cheek ; usual 

 length here 7 in., but they grow often to 12 in. or 13 in. 

 D. 53; A. 28; P. 14; C. 16. 



Common on all the sandy coasts of Scandinavia. About 

 the spawning season, which takes place sooner or later in 

 the summer, they come on to the sandy shores in shoals. 

 The sand eels come into Ystad, in the south of Sweden, 



