JAMAICA ATHERINE. 131 



anal fin : tail forked. Native of the Mediterra- 

 nean and Northern seas. We are told by Mons r . 

 Sonnini, in his Grecian travels, that this species, 

 which is named Athernos by the modern Greeks, is 

 seen in vast shoals about the coasts of the Grecian 

 islands, and is easily taken in great quantities by 

 the simple device of trailing in the water a horse's 

 tail or a piece of black cloth fastened to the end 

 of a pole ; the fishes following all its motions and 

 suffering themselves to be drawn into some deep 

 cavity formed by the rocks, where they are readily 

 secured by means of a net, and may be taken at 

 pleasure. Mr. Pennant informs us that they are 

 taken at almost all times of the year, except in 

 very cold weather, about the coast of Southampton, 

 where they are often called by the name of Smelts. 



JAMAICA ATHERINE. 



Atherina Menidia. A. subflavescens, subpeUucida, fascia laterali 



argentea, pinna ani radiis viginti-quatiior. 

 Subflavescent, subpellucid Atherine, with silvery lateral stripe, 



and twenty-four rays in the anal fin. 

 Atherina Menidia. A. pinna ani radiis liginti-quatuor. Lin. 



Syst. Nat. p. 5\g. 

 Menidia corpore subpellucido. Brown Jam. p. 141. 



A SMALL species, usually measuring about three 

 inches in length : the head is pretty large in pro- 

 portion to the body: the silvery lateral band is 

 broad in proportion to the fish, and of a brilliant 

 silver-colour. It is said to be an extremely delicate 

 fish, and is in much esteem with the inhabitants of 



