186 



ENGRATJLIS ANTARCTICUS. 



(White Bait.) 



The height of body seven and one-quarter times in the total 

 length ; head fonr and one-quarter in the same ; eye three and 

 one-fifth in length of head ; the muzzle considerably longer than 

 the mandibula, and embracing it ; the upper jaw presents a line 

 of very minute and equal teeth, and the lower one has a similar 

 line of still smaller ones. The dorsal is inserted at equal' distance 

 from the snout and the base of the caudal, it is as high as the 

 body; of fifteen rays, the first much shorter than the others, but 

 the second and fifth rather longer than the following ; caudal 

 strongly bifurcated; the lateral rays being about one-third longer 

 than the height of the body ; it is formed with twenty long rays, 

 and five or six shorter ones on each side ; anal rather lower than 

 the dorsal, having twelve rays of which the first is short. From the 

 posterior end of the anal the distance to the lateral root of the 

 caudal is contained three times in the distance from its begin- 

 ning to the end of the mandibula, and twice from the superior 

 root of the caudal to the anterior one of the dorsal ; the ventrals 

 are rather smaller than the pectorals, and are formed of only one 

 simple ray, and five branched ones ; they are placed a little in 

 advance of the dorsal ; the pectorals are formed of fifteen rays. 



The colour of the upper parts is of a light greyish green, with 

 purple tinges ; the head is brown ; the lower parts are very 

 silvery ; there is a narrow, yellow, longitudinal streak from the 

 upper part of the operculum to the base of the caudal, and below 

 this extends a broad longitudinal, silvery, and very brilliant band, 

 having sometimes a blue tinge ; the operculum and throat are very 

 iridescent ; the fins are diaphanous ; the caudal is yellow at its 

 base, and obscure towards the extremity ; eye silvery. After 

 having been in the liquor the fish appears very silvery, with the 

 upper parts of a dark blue. 



Very common on the Melbourne Market during the whole 

 year. 



Dr. G-unther states that the common European anchovy 

 Enqraulis Encrasicliolus is found in Australia ; but this is only 

 said to satisfy his usual tendency to unite, under the same 

 species, fishes from all parts of the globe, and as he himself 



