STERNOPTYX. STERNOPTYX. 



Generic Character, 



Caput obtusum. 



Os simum. 



Dentes minutissimi. 



Membrana branch, nulla. 



Corpus compressum, alepi- 

 dotum ; sterno carinato 

 bifariam plicato ; abdo- 

 mine pellucido. 



Head obtuse. 



Mouth abrupt. 



Teeth very minute. 



Gill-membrane none. 



Body compressed, without 

 visible scales; breast ca- 

 rinate, folded both ways ; 

 abdomen pellucid. 



TRANSPARENT STERNOPTYX. 



Sternoptyx Diaphana. S. argentea, sterno carinato, abdomine 

 pellucido. 



Silvery Sternoptyx, with carinated breast, and pellucid abdo- 

 men. 



Sternoptyx diaphana. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmcl. p. H50. Hern, 

 Naturf. ] 6. p. 8. t. l.f. 1. 2, 



Th E small fish from which this genus is instituted 

 is a native of the American seas, and is described 

 as of the general length of two or three inches; 

 the shape broad, and pretty much compressed ; the 

 back rising into a sharp edge, and the abdomen 

 terminating in a carina: the eyes are large; the 

 mouth rather wide, and suddenly descending, so as 

 to appear abrupt when viewed in front : the breast 



