148 FISHES. 



short but higher, and the anal corresponding to the latter ; the ventrals 

 are a little distance behind the pectorals. The branches of the lower jaw- 

 raised vertically, and provided with a range of transparent pointed teeth, 

 forming a kind of saw, and enclosed, when the mouth is shut, by those of 

 the upper one. There is also a small series of pointed teeth in each pa- 

 latine, and two in the vomer. Their stomach is fleshy and doubled, their 

 caecums numerous, and their intestines considerable. The oesophagus is 

 furnished internally with hard and pointed papillae. 



Tetrag. Cuvieri, Risso; Courpata or Corbeau, of the Mediterra- 

 nean coast, is the only species known, and is never taken except in 

 very deep water. It is a foot long, and black; the scales hard, 

 deeply striate and indented. The flesh is said to be poisonous*. 



I also place here, between the Mugiloides and the Gobioides, a genus 

 which does not completely harmonize with any other. 1 mean the 



Atherina, Lin., 



Which have the body elongated; two dorsals widely separated; the ven- 

 trals further back than the pectorals; the mouth highly protractile, and 

 furnished with very minute teeth ; a broad silvery band along each flank 

 on all the known species. There are six rays in the branchiae ; the sto- 

 mach has no cul-de-sac, and their duodenum no caecal appendages. The 

 transverse processes of the last abdominal vertebrae are bent, and thus 

 form a little conical bag or cornet, which receives the point of the nata- 

 tory bladder. These little fishes are highly esteemed for the delicacy of 

 their flesh. The young ones remain for a long time in compact troops, 

 and are consumed on the coast of the Mediterranean under the name of 

 Nonnat, the Aphyes of the antients. Several species inhabit European 

 seas, hitherto confounded with the Ath. hepsetus, L. 



Ath. hepsetus, Cuv.-j- ; the Sauclet of Languedoc, or Cabassous of 

 Provence; Rondel. 216; Duham. Sect. VI, pi. iv, f. 3. The head 

 somewhat pointed; nine spinous rays in the first dorsal; eleven soft 

 ones in the second, and twelve in the anal ; fifty-five vertebrae in all. 

 Ath. Boyer, Risso; the Joel of Languedoc, or Cabassouda of 

 Ivica, Rondel. 217. The head broader and shorter, the eye larger; 

 seven spines in the first dorsal, eleven rays in the second, thirteen 

 in the anal; forty-four vertebrae in all. 



Ath. moehon, Cuv. (The Mochon of Ivica). The form of the 

 Sauclet; but there are seven spines in the first dorsal, fifteen soft 

 rays in the anal, and forty-six vertebra. 



Ath. presbyter, Cuv. ; the Pretre, Abusseau, or Prosere of the 

 Coasts, &c.+ ; Duham. Sect. VI, pi. iv, f. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7. The 



* There is no good figure of it: Mugil niger, Rondel. 423; Corvus nilolicus, 

 Aldrov. Pise. 610; Risso, Ed. I, pi. x, f. 37. 



f This is probably the special type of the hepsetus of Linnaeus. It is necessary 

 to observe.that the figure called Atherina hepsetus, Bl. pi. cccxciii, f. 3, and Syst. pi. 

 xxix, f. 2, is purely ideal. 



+ So called from the silvery baud on the flank, which has been compared to a 

 stole. 



