GREA T BRITAIN. 109 



zones, but even in estuaries and tidal rivers when not far 

 removed from the sea, while some have been acclimatised 

 in fresh waters. 



GENUS i. Sand Smelt (AtJterina). 



These are gregarious fishes mostly residing in the littoral 

 regions. 



AtJierina presbyter was reported by Meynell in 1844 as 

 iken in Bridlington Bay, Yorkshire. Montagu and Yarrell 

 msidered it absent from the east coast of England, where 

 its place is filled by the true smelt, Osmerus eperlanus, 

 in its turn is asserted to be absent from the south 

 ist. The foregoing, it would appear, cannot be accepted 

 literally correct if Gurney, who has reported it from 

 )westoft, and Lowe, from the Norfolk estuary, have not 

 likewise been in error. It is evidently rare on the east 

 ;oast, which may be due to the nature of the ground or 

 ibsence of appropriate food. In the Field, May 2 1st, 

 :88i, it is observed, "Sand-smelts run larger in Cornish 

 deep-water harbours than further east, as a rule." 



I. Sand-smelt (A therina presbyter). 



Names. Smelt, or sand-smelt ', where the true Osmerus 

 eperlanus is unknown. A local name is silver-sides ; from 

 its colour. In Cornwall it was formerly termed Quid, a 

 word signifying " white " ; PincJier at Portrush (Ogilby) ; 

 Portaferry chicken, north of Ireland (Thompson). 



B. vi., D. 7-9/s V. , A. ^ L. 1. 57-62, L. tr. 10-11, 

 Vert. 51. 



Length of head 5-^- to 6 ; height of body $$ to 6f 

 in the total length. Eye. Diameter 2f to 3 in the length 



