1879.] Notes on Some Fishes of the Coast of California. 307 
different family, the Atherinide, and are said to be much less deli- 
cate in flavor than the others. A third Avtherinopsis, A. tenuis, 
was described by Dr. Ayres (Proc. Cal. Ac. Sci., 11, 75, fig. on p. 
76) but it is very rare, and I have not yet seen it. 
These fishes may be readily distinguished as follows: The two 
kinds of Atherinopsis have two dorsal fins, the first very small, 
placed about in the center of the length of the back, and formed 
of spines or stiff rays, the second rather larger, and separated by 
an interval from the first. Their prevailing color is light green. 
The two Salmonoids have a dorsal fin, formed of soft rays, in 
or near the center of the dorsal outline, and a fleshy fold, or 
“adipose fin,” placed farther back near the tail. 
Atherinopsis californiensis is a larger fish than its congener, 
reaching a length of seventeen inches, and it may be distinguished 
by its larger head, more slender form of body, larger mouth and 
the central position of the first dorsal. 
In A. affinis the dorsal is nearly its own length further back, 
the form of the body is much stouter, the head proportionally 
smaller, the mouth smaller, the fins larger and the flesh firmer. 
Dr. Ayres states that this species never exceeds eight inches in 
length, and this size must be but rarely attained, as the specimens 
I have seen in our markets seldom pass six inches, while A. cai- 
Jorniensis usually exceeds twice that length. 
Osmerus thaleichthys is really the nearest representative of the 
smelt of Europe, having the peculiar, pleasant smell that sug- 
gested the name in that species, which is also a kind of Osmerus. 
It may readily be distinguished from the two previous species 
by the want of spinous rays on the back, by the adipose fin, by 
the absence of the bright green tint which is replaced on the back 
by a dull greenish-olive, on which a diamond pattern is traced by 
rows of minute dark dots that fringe each scale, and by its smaller 
size. From the other small Salmonoid it may easily be known 
by the comparatively large size of the mouth and less transparent 
appearance. It is usually from five to five and a half inches in 
length. Its form is stouter than that of Hypomesus olidus, the flesh 
is soft in texture, and the pectoral fins reach very peri to the 
origin of the ventrals. 
Hypomesus olidus (Pallas) Gill, is called “ whitebait” by those 
who are familiar with the delicate fish known by that name in 
England, yet is not very nearly related to the real whitebait, 
which is asserted by Dr: Giinther to be the young of the common 
