40 



Henidia notata {Mitch.). 

 Silversides ; Spearing. 

 Slender, transparent; greenish or straw color. D. IV-I, 8; 

 A. I, 8. Length 3 inches or more. 



Found coastwise, entering streams and often in nearly fresh 

 water. The spearing swims in shoals and likes eddies close to 

 swift currents. It is a very delicate little fish, which can be 

 kept only in continually agitated water. 



We have now reached the spiny rayed fishes proper, in all 

 of which, if the ventral fins are present, they are thoracic or 

 jugular, generally I, 5, the gills usually four, opercles and 

 pharyngeals well developed and the premaxillary forming the 

 whole border of the mouth. The first rays of dorsals and 

 anals are usually spinous. 



Family Pomatomidae. 



BEUEFISHES. 



These have a large, oblique, much toothed mouth ; the 



caudal is forked ; scales ctenoid. The only species of the 



family is 



Pomatomus saltatrix (L.). 



Beuefish. 



Blue above, silvery below. D. VIII-I, 25; A. II-I, 26. 

 Spines weak. Scales 95. Length to 3 feet. 



A fish occurring in tropical waters ; on our coast north to 

 Cape Cod. During the warm season they often run up the 

 rivers, the young, called "snappers," frequently into nearly 

 fresh waters. 



The bluefish is a most destructive fish, tearing to pieces its 

 own kind if any of them should become disabled. It fol- 

 lows the menhaden schools for prey. 



Family Aphredoderidae. 



Pirate Perches. 



Consists of only one species, widely distributed in the eastern 



United States in lowland streams. The body is oblong ; head 



thick, depressed ; tail compressed. Teeth in bands on jaws, 



vomer and palatines. Chin projecting ; opercle with a spine ; 



