OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 63 



an imperfectly observed example only of Regalec-us Banksii. 

 It is by no means improbable that many of the tales 

 concerning the existence of the Sea-Serpent have originated 

 in connection with these Ribbon-fishes, and which, swim- 

 ming along the surface of smooth water, would create an 

 undulating wave behind them, which would add apparently 

 very considerably to their actual length. 



FAMILY XXIV.— Sand-Smelts (Atherinidce). 



Body more or less elongate, sub-cylindrical, clothed with 

 cycloid scales ; teeth minute ; dorsal fins two in number, the 

 first armed with feeble spines ; branchiostegal rays five or 

 six in number ; air-bladder present. 



The Sand-Smelts are small, gregarious fishes, rarely 

 exceeding a length of six or seven inches, distributed 

 throughout the temperate and tropical seas, one form, the 

 common Sand-Smelt, or Atherine (Atherina presbyter}, 

 No. 85, being exceedingly abundant upon the south coast of 

 England. It must not be mistaken for the true Smelt 

 (Osmerus eperlanus), one of the Salmonidcz, whose family 

 affinities will be at once recognised by its possession of the 

 characteristic functionless or adipose posterior dorsal fin. 

 A reputed second but much rarer British Sand-Smelt 

 is Boyer's Atherine {Atherina Boyeri), No. 86, more usually 

 inhabiting the Mediterranean and the Atlantic as far south 

 as Madeira, but which is reported to have been taken on one 

 or two occasions upon the Cornish coast. The first-named, 

 commoner species, is much esteemed as an article of food. 



