4IO REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 



small, forked. Pectorals inserted low. No ventral fins. Vent 

 inserted behind middle of body. 



Small carnivorous fishes swimming in large schools near the 

 shore and burying themselves in the sand along the coasts of 

 northern regions. 



Genus AmmodyTES Linnaeus. 



The Sand Launces. 

 Ammodytes americanus De Kay. 



Sand Lance. 



Head 5% ; depth 12^ ; D. 60; A. i, 30; scales about 145 in a 

 lateral series to base of caudal; 3 scales between base of dorsal 

 and lateral line; about 12 scales in a vertical series between origin 

 of anal and lateral line ; mandible 2 J4 in head ; caudal 2^/7 ; 



-W 



Sand Lance. Ammodyics amevicanus De Kay. 



pectoral 2j4 ; least depth of caudal peduncle 6^ ; snout 3>^ in 

 head, measured from tip of upper jaw; eye 7; maxillary 3^; 

 interorbital space 7%. Body elongate, lanceolate and rather cy- 

 lindrical. Head attenuate, compressed. Sbout conic, long. 

 Eye a little elongate, its center in first % of head. Mouth a little 

 inclined, long, and mandible well produced. Rami of mandible 

 well elevated inside mouth. Maxillary slender, reaching orbit. 

 Interorbital space flattened. Gill-rakers 5 + 24, very slender, 

 long, longest nearly equal to horizontal orbital diameter. Skin 

 with many transverse folds obliquely downward and backward 

 and small cycloid scales in cross series between. Lateral line con- 

 current and close to dorsal profile. A low dermal fold along 

 each side of belly. Dorsal inserted a trifle before tip of pectoral. 

 Anal inserted a little nearer tip of caudal than origin of pectoral. 

 Caudal emarginate. Pectoral small. Mostly silvery, olive above. 

 Length 8j^ inches. Cape May. 



