GEEY MULLETS. 501 



coast of France call these newly hatclied Atherines " Nonnat " 

 (unborn). Some thirty species are known, of which A. pres- 

 hyter and A. loyeri occur on the British coast. 



Atherinichthys, distinguished from Atherina in having the 

 snout more or less produced ; and the cleft of the mouth gene- 

 rally does not extend to the orbit. 



These Atherines are especially abundant on the coasts 

 and in the fresh waters of Australia and South America. Of 

 the twenty species known, several attain a length of eighteen 

 inches and a weight of more than a pound. All are highly 

 esteemed as food; but the most celebrated is the "Pesce 

 Eey " of Chile (A. latidavia). 



Tetragonurus. — Body rather elongate, covered with strongly 

 keeled and striated scales. The first dorsal fin is composed of 

 numerous feeble spines, and continued on to the second. Lower 

 jaw elevated, with convex dental margin, and armed with com- 

 pressed, triangular, rather small teeth, in a single series. 



This very remarkable fish is more frequently met with in 

 the Mediterranean than in the Atlantic, but generally scarce. 

 Nothing is known of its habits ; when young it is one of the 

 fishes which accompany Medusae, and, therefore, it must be 

 regarded as a pelagic form. Probably, at a later period of its 

 life, it descends to greater depths, coming to the surface at 

 night only. It grows to a length of eighteen inches. 



Third Family — Mugilid^e. 



Body more or less otlong and compressed, covered with cycloid 

 scales of moderate size ; lateral line none. Cleft of the mouth 

 narrow or of moderate width, without or with feeble teeth. Uye 

 lateral, of moderate size. Gill-opening wide. The anterior 

 dorsal fin composed of four stiff spines. Vertebrce twenty-four. 



The " Grey Mullets " inhabit ia numerous species and in 

 great numbers the coasts of the temperate and tropical 



