THE ARGENTINE. 455 



wards ; the sub-orbital bone occupies the anterior inferior 

 half of the orbit, and is of a beautiful argenteous lustre, 

 like the operculum. There are five oval spots forming a 

 fan- shaped figure, occupying the space between the anterior 

 ridge of the superior maxillary bone, and the anterior infe- 

 rior angle of the preoperculum beneath the suborbital bone, 

 and distinctly seen through the transparent intermaxillary 

 bone which is very large. There is one gutta upon the 

 preoperculum at its anterior inferior angle of the suboper- 

 culum ; there is no appearance of branchiostegous rays 

 whilst the opercula are closed. 



" The sides of this elegant little fish are of the most re- 

 splendent argenteous lustre ; the guttae are of a dense 

 opaque white, and round their margin, especially along the 

 sub-caudal series, there is a steel-blue tinge, giving that part 

 of the body a very beautiful appearance. The upper ab- 

 dominal series have an arched appearance, from this tinge 

 not being continued round the inferior margin of the guttce. 

 The back of the specimen under description, which has 

 been in spirit ever since its capture, is of a dense blue-black, 

 presenting, in certain lights, a brownish tinge. From spe- 

 cimens of this fish having been found in the above localities, 

 viz. in the sea near Flintshire, on the shore in Orkney, in 

 Devonshire, and, lastly, in Edinburghshire, we may infer 

 that it is generally, although sparingly, diffused through 

 the British seas. Probably ere long we may hear of other 

 examples of its occurrence upon our shores, or in our seas ; 

 for I am convinced that, from the admirable character of 

 Mr Yarrel's work, it will have the effect of exciting such 

 an interest in the inhabitants of the boundless deep, that 

 many interesting facts respecting the ichthyology of our 

 seas will soon be brought to light, which, but for such a 

 publication, would have remained unrecorded, perhaps un- 

 noticed . ,1 



