116 WHITEBAIT. 



circumstance ■which seems to shew where the roe is deposited. 

 A large Whitebait has measured six inches in length, hut they 

 do not usually exceed four inches: proportions of the body 

 nearly like those of the young herring, but a little deeper in 

 comparison with the length, and more compressed than in the 

 Pilchard; also more slender towards the tail. Under jaw longest, 

 the gape full; teeth scarcely perceptible when fresh from the 

 water, but existing in the jaws — an oval row on the tongue; 

 also round the palate and along the vomer; the mystache 

 extending to a line even with the centre of the eye. Where 

 the gill-covers come together on the throat they form a sharp 

 edge. Eye large; above the upper jaw a depression, from which 

 the outline rises gradually to the beginning of the back; and 

 when the fish is in good condition the elevation goes on to 

 the beginning of the dorsal fin. Scales on the body large and 

 closely set, but easily lost; and an obscure ridge of scales in 

 eighteen sections from the throat to the vent. Dorsal fin behind 

 the centre of gravity, with seventeen rays, the first ray a little 

 anterior to the ventrals; the latter with eight rays. Anal fin 

 narrow; tail forked, with nineteen rays; pectoral with seventeen. 

 Colour along the back bluish or a rather dark ash green, which 

 does not descend on the sides. All besides pearly white, but 

 in some examples, as in those from the Exe, slight yellow on 

 the sides. This description, and especially as regards the teeth, 

 will serve to distinguish this species from the early growth of 

 those with which it might be confounded; but a lens may be 

 required in order to discover them. There is also no indentation 

 in front of the upper jaw, as in the Shads. 



