276 BY THE DEEP SEA. 



underneath, where also are the gill openings, whilst the eyes, 

 at a proportionate distance from each other, are placed sym- 

 metrically on the upper side. 



If we take a trowel or spade we may succeed in digging up 

 some specimens of the Lesser Launce (Ammodytes tobianus), 

 often incorrectly termed the Sand-eel. He who would catch 

 this beautiful little fish must be very quick, for if, on being 

 dug out, it is allowed again to touch the sand, it will disappear 

 with such speed as makes it well nigh impossible to overtake 

 it again. Couch says it rarely goes from the sandy shores far 

 into deep water. It swims in small schools in the quiet waters 

 of bays and harbours where it may be seen in summer to be 

 chased by mackerel and other fishes. It will be observed in 

 the accompanying figure that the lower jaw is longer than the 

 upper, and when the mouth is closed, the fleshy pointed edge 

 of the under jaw furnishes a valuable instrument for piercing 

 the soft sand when the Launce is thus beset by enemies. 

 The outline of the fish is so evenly, gently tapering that there 

 are no elevations that can offer resistance to its rapid progress 

 through the sand. It has a clean, keen look, as though the 

 sand had been used for scouring and sharpening it. The 

 pectoral fins are long and narrow, but there are no ventral 

 fins. The dorsal fin extends almost from the pectorals to the 

 tail at one height throughout, and the same description applies 

 to the anal fin in its course from the vent to near the tail. 



