MITCHILL ON THE FISHES OF NEW-YORK, 445 



ELOPS. 



Generic character. 



Head smooth. Edges of the jaws and palate rough *vith teeth. 

 Gill membrane with thirty rays, and armed on the outside in the mid- 

 dle with five teeth. 



Smooth Elops. (Elops inermis.) With smooth forked tail, and a 

 single dorsal fin supported by a membranous prop on each side. 



In September, 1813, a splendid fish was sold in the New York mar- 

 ket under the imposing name of salmon trout. An individual which I 

 bought was twenty-two inches long, and weighed forty-two ounces. 



The gill membrane had thirty rays. The back dark coloured. Belly 

 and sides silvery white. Lateral line almost straight. 



The tail was considerably forked. There was but one dorsal fin, 

 and a rayless membrane on each side of it, sheathing it to the height 

 of a quarter of an inch. He was exceedingly showy and handsome, and 

 brought the seller three quarters of a dollar a fish. 



Mouth ample and capacious. Jaws rather rough than toothed. 

 Tongue very small, and situated on the spot where the branchial arches 

 unite. Its surface rough, like that of the jaws. No proper teeth. 



Rays, Br. 30. D. 24. V. 15. A. 15. 



ATHERINA. ATHERINE. 



Generic character. 



Head somewhat flattened over the upper jaw. Gill membrane six 

 rayed. Body marked by a silver lateral stripe. 



