136 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE. 



torals reach to the ventrals, and are contained about once and two-thirds in the length of the 

 head. Caudal deeply forked ; the lower lobe a little longer than the upper one : the base 

 appears to have been covered with minute scales. Above the pectorals is a thin membrana- 

 ceous lanceolate scale, more than half the length of the fin : a somewhat similar scale in the 

 axillae of the ventrals, but shorter in proportion ; another below those fins. 

 Colour. — " Body silvery : dorsal scales iridescent with green and copper : head greenish : 

 tail yellow." — D. 



A second specimen agrees with the above in form, but is smaller, measuring only 7^ inches. 

 The colours, when recent, according to Mr. Darwin's notes, were as follows : — " Scales silvery 

 iridescent ; back especially greenish ; caudal fin yellow : remarkable for a circular dark green 

 patch behind the gill-cover."' — D. 



Habitat, Bahia Blanca. 



This species was caught by Mr. Darwin in the net, on a sandbank, at Bahia 

 Blanca. It is well characterized by its strongly-pectinated scales, and does not 

 appear to have been noticed by authors ; though it would seem in that respect to 

 have some affinity with the Clupeajimbriata of Bowdich.* 



Engraulis ringens. Jen. 

 E. capite compresso, grandiusculo, quar tarn partem long itudinis totius ceqnante : ros- 

 tro acuto, ultra maxillam superiorem mediocriter prominulo ; mandibuld anffustd 

 dentibus lateralibus (ut etiam in maxilla) minimis : corpore compresso : pinnis ven- 

 tralibus infra, vix ante, initium pinna dorsalis exorientibus : squama longissimd 

 membranaccd super pinnam pectoralem retrorsum productd. 



D. 15; A. 19; C. 19, &c. ; P. 16; V. 7. 

 Long. unc. 5. 



Form — Closely resembling the common Anchovy, but the head decidedly larger and longer, being 

 one-fourth of the entire length. f Eye larger, but bearing an equal proportion to the size of 

 the head ; also rather nearer to the tip of the snout in consequence of this last not beino- 

 so acute and much produced. Lower jaw rather narrower, from the greater compression of 

 the head and body. Maxillary, and its fine serratures on the edges for teeth, similar. 



The depth of the body is about one-sixth of the entire length. The dorsal commences 

 at the middle point of the length, reckoning this last to the base of the caudal fork, and 

 terminates a little before the commencement of the anal : the first ray is not half the length 

 of the second and third, which equal three-fourths of the depth : the fifth and succeeding rays 

 become gradually shorter than those which precede. The first ray in the anal is likewise very 

 short, and scarcely one-third of the next following. The ventrals arise almost directly under 

 the first ray of the dorsal, being scarcely at all in advance ; when laid back, they do not 

 reach half-way to the anal. Above the pectoral is a long membranaceous scale equalling, or 

 very nearly, the fin itself. 



* Excursions in Madeira, p. 234, fig. 44. 



t In the E. enchrasicholus, it is hardly one-fourth of the length, excluding caudal. 



