TION. 



Class IV. SAND LAUNCE. 207 



These fish are found in the stomachs of the 

 Porpesse, an argument that the last roots up 

 the sand with its nose as hogs do the ground. 



They grow sometimes the length of nine or Descrip- 

 ten inches ; the females are longer and slenderer 

 than the males. The form of the body is square, 

 the sides are rounded, and the angles not sharp : 

 it is nevertheless long and slender ; the head is 

 small and taper; the under jaw much longer 

 than the upper: the upper jaw is moveable, 

 capable of being protruded, so that when open 

 the gape is very wide. The hides are silvery. 

 The dorsal fin runs almost the whole length of 

 the back, is very narrow, and consists of fifty- 

 eight rays; the pectoral fins are small, and 

 have twelve rays; the anal is placed much nearer 

 the tail than the head, is narrow, and extends 

 almost to the former; the tail is forked, but 

 the lobes rounded at their extremities. The 

 color of the back is blue, varying with green ; 

 on each side the back is a narrow dusky line or 

 two ; the sides and belly are silvery ; the lateral 

 line strait. 



