142 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



very protractile ; the lower somewhat longer ; both armed with a single series of hooked 

 teeth, those in front largest. 



Dorsal fins two ; the first triangular, with five simple rigid rays, gradually decreasing in 

 size from the anterior ray : its position is above the vent. The second dorsal arises 0"2 be- 

 hind the first, is composed of one spinous and nine articulated rays, with its upper margin 

 slightly excavated. The pectorals long and pointed ; placed high up, and extending nearly 

 to the base of the ventral rays. Ventrals short and feeble, composed of one simple and five 

 articulated rays. Anal fin long, with its anterior rays longest, and a broadly concave margin. 

 Caudal fin deeply emarginate, with nineteen rays. 



Color. A broad silvery band arises from the branchial aperture, and extends straight to the 

 tail. Gill-covers and ej'cs silvery. Jaws margined with dusky. Body, above the broad 

 longitudinal stripe, of a translucent sea-green color. Under the lens, each scale is marked 

 by a convex series of dark points. A dark rounded spot at the base of each anal ray. 



Length, 3-5. Of the head, 0' 7. Depth, Q-G. 

 Fin rays, D. 5.1.9; P. 15; V. 1.5; A. 1.25; C. 19. 



This is a common species in the harbor of New-York, but they do not appear to be as 

 numerous now as they were twenty years ago, when they were caught from the wharves and 

 sold for bait. They are known under the names of Anchovies and Sand Smelts. They are 

 esteemed a savory food. Their present ascertained geographical range extends from South- 

 Carolina to Cape, Cod in Massachusetts. We are at a loss to know why Cuvier and Valen- 

 ciennes changed the prior and appropriate name given to this species by Dr. Mitchill. 



THE SLENDER SILVERSIDE. 



Atherina menidia. 



PLATE I.XXIV. FIG. 23fi. 



Atherina menidia. LiNN. Syst. Nat. Ed. 12mo. p. 519, (excl. syn.) 



A. menidia. Peck, Massachusetts Hist. Collections, Vol. 5? p. 202. 



Green-striped Silverside, A. viridescens. Mitch. Lit. and Phil. Soc. Vol. 1, p. 417. (Young and imperfect?) 



Characteristics. Body long and slender. Dorsals distant ; the second dorsal nearly over the 

 middle of the anal. Length five inches. 



Description. Height to its length, as one to seven. Length of the head to the total length, 

 as one lo five and a half. Summit of the head smooth and convex. The gape of the mouth 

 extends but half of the interval between the eye and the end of the snout. Its small teeth 

 are very evident. The pectorals to the total length are as one to seven. Anal fin two and a 

 half times longer than the second dorsal, which is placed nearly opposite its middle portion. 

 The longitudinal band has a bluish border above. The black points on the edge of the scales 

 are very small, so that the fish is light-colored. This species has two ovaries. Air-bladder 

 simple. Vertebra; forty-four. Branchial rays six. 



