OBSERVED IN THE NORTH POLAR SEA. 511 
The colour is bluish-grey on the back, Ughter on the 
sides, and on the belly white. There are no spots on the 
body. 
The scales are orbicular, with an even margin, and ra- 
ther large, being half an inch in diameter. They are of 
equal size on the back and belly, and possess a bright 
pearly lustre. The opercula, cheeks, and irides, have the 
same lustre with the sca,les. 
The head is small, compressed, and ends in an obtuse 
snout, which appears more pointed when viewed laterally. 
The infrar-orbitar bones cover all the cheek. The vertex 
is clothed with a soft smooth skin. 
The eyes are large, and the orbit is about one-third 
nearer to the extremity of the snout than to the posterior 
margin of the operculum. 
The nostrils are double, and placed immediately before 
the anterior superior angle of the orbit. The membranous 
margin of the anterior opening answers as an operculum to 
the posterior one. 
The mouth is small, and when shut its angles are de- 
pressed. It is somewhat four-sided when open. The supe- 
rior and inferior maxillary bones form the principal part of 
its border ; the intermaxillary bones are small, and very 
thin, and, through the medium of a cartilaginous articula- 
tion with the end of the snout, give an obscure motion to 
the upper lip, which descends obliquely. The maxillaries 
having a semi> elliptical figure, form the sides of the mouth 
with their curved edges. They are connected with the 
in term axil laries through the medium of membrane, and are 
articulated with the snout by their rather pointed upper 
extremities : their lower extremities are rounded, and play 
upon the lower jaw, being aided in their motions by a 
small, loose, thin, ovate process. The jaws are of equal 
