SPRAT. 



125 



meter of the eye less tlian one-fourtli of the whole head : con- 

 siderable convexity of the dorsal and abdominal lines ; the 

 latter serrated before the ventral fins, and still more strongly 

 so behind them : the tail deeply forked ; the scales large, 

 round, and deciduous ; the upper part of the head and back 

 dark blue, with green reflections passing into silvery white on 

 the gill-covers, sides, and belly ; the dorsal and caudal fins 

 dusky ; pectoral, ventral, and anal fins white. The fin-rays 

 in number are — 



D. 17 : P. 15 : V. 7 : A. 18. : C. 19. Vertebrae 48. 



The vignette below represents the mode of fishing for 

 Whitebait in the Thames : the account of the fish com- 

 mences on the next page. 



