334 ANACANTHINI. 



Ammodytes tobianus, Risso, Ich. Nice, p. 95 ; Costa, Fauna Nap. pi. li ; Canestr. 

 Fauna Ital. p. 191. 



Ammodytes argenteus, Risso, Hist. Nat. Eur. iii, p. 209. 



Ammodytes sioulus, Swainson, Zool. Illus. 2nd series, i, pi. Ixiii, f. 1, and Fish. 

 ii, p. 254 ; Giinther, Catal. iv, p. 386, and Ann. and Mag. Nat. History, 1867 (5) 

 XX, p. 290 ; Steind. Ich. Span. u. Port. 1869, p. 46, pi. ii, f . 3 ; Giglioli, Peso. Ital. 

 p. 37. 



B. vii, D. 53-59, P. 14, A. 28-30, 0. 19. 



Length of head 4f to 5|, of caudal fin 11 to 11|, height of body 11| to 15 in 

 the total length. Eye — diameters 5^ to 6^ in the length of the head, H diameters 

 from the end of the snout, and 1 apart. Lower jaw projecting a little distance 

 beyond the upper : premaxillaries protractile : the posterior extremity of the upper 

 jaw reaches to almost or quite beneath the front edge of the orbit. Teeth — absent 

 and vomer unarmed. Fins — the dorsal commences a short distance behind the end 

 of the pectoral fin, its upper border is not straight, the first few rays being more 

 elevated than the succeeding ones, while another elevation occurs at the middle 

 of the fin, and a third near its extremity : the anal is similarly elevated near its 

 termination : caudal forked. Scales — the body is smooth, but a few deciduous 

 scales are usually found on its posterior part. Colours — back olive, with a 

 brilliant silvery band passing along the side from the head to the base of the 

 caudal fin ; often a blue spot on the top of the head, which is tinged with bronze 

 and gold. 



Names. — Smooth sand-launce. 



As food. — Said to be very delicate eating. 



Halits. — Arrives off Nice in May and June, and is most common during the 

 spring-time, while in Italy it is most in season from February until April. 



Habitat. — Dr. Giinther observes that the example in the British Museum, 

 6 inches in length, was dredged at sea off Shetland in 80 or 90 fathoms ; if such 

 is the case, this species must be admitted to our fauna. Normally it appears 

 to be a resident in the Mediterranean, especially in its eastern portion, and 

 off Sicily and Naples. 



The example is figured life size. 



