574 
SCANDINAVIAN FISHES. 
Ammodytes tobianus, Risso, Ichth. Nice , p. 95; Costa, Fn. 
Nap., Pesci, Gen. Ammod., pp. 1 — 10, tab. LI. 
Ammodytes Siculus, Swainson, Zool. Illustr., vol. I, tab. 63; 
Bonap., Cat. Met. Pesci Fait., p. 40; Gtiir, Cat. Brit. Mus . , 
Fish., vol. IV, p. 386; Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. Ill, vol. 
XX, p. 290; Steind., Stzber. Akad. Wiss. Wien. Math. Naturw. 
Cl., vol. LV1I, i (1868) p. 712, tab. II, fig. 3; Gigl., Espos. 
Intern. Pesca, Berl. 1880, Catal. Sez. Ital., p. 97. 
The chief characteristic of this species is the weak 
development of the scales. Distinct scales occur only 
on the hind part of the tail, and the sides of the body 
are without the oblique, transverse, dermal folds in 
which the rest of the scales are hidden in the other two 
species. To this we may add the apparently charac- 
teristic shape of the dorsal and anal tins". The former 
is furnished with two sinuses, one in the front part of 
the upper margin and one in the hind part thereof; 
while the anal tin contains one sinus, corresponding to 
the posterior one in the dorsal fin. In other respects 
the Smooth Sand-Launce is an intermediate form be- 
tween our other two species: the pectoral tins are short 
as in the Sand-Eel, but the structure of the mouth and 
of the head of the vomer is the same as in the Sand- 
Launce. The back is greenish (olive) or bluish. A broad 
band with a strong, silvery lustre extends along the 
whole length of the sides. A blue spot often occurs, 
according to Moreau, on the top of the head. The snout 
is flesh-coloured, according to Costa. The iris is sil- 
very white. 
According to Gunther, Moreau, and Giglioli the 
Smooth Sand-Launce is the only Mediterranean species 
of the genus. Gunther states that in 1867 Gwyn- 
Jeffreys took a specimen 15 cm. long in a dredge, off 
the Shetland Islands, in 80 or 90 fathoms of water. In 
1858 and with the same tackle Lilljeborg took a spe- 
cimen 12V 2 cm. long, on a bottom of shell sand, at 
a depth of about 30 fathoms, off Christiansund in Nor- 
way. The former specimen had attained the maximum 
size assigned to the species by Moreau. 
THE SAND-LAUNCE (sw. blatobisen). 
AMMODYTES TOBIANUS. 
Fig. 137. 
Upper jaw protrusile: nasal processes of the intermaxillary hones long — measuring about 2 / 3 (64 — 67 %) of the 
length of the intermaxillary hones — and mobile , with a gliding motion, in the groove in the upper surface of the 
ethmoid hone. Pectoral fins comparatively long, their tip extending distinctly behind the perpendicular from the 
beginning of the dorsal fin, and their length, being greater than that of the lower jaw, more than 46 % (47 — 60 
%) of that of the head , and at least 37 % (37 — 43 %) of the distance between the dorsal fin and the tip of the 
snout. Head of the vomer toothless. Dorsal and anal fins of uniform height. 
Fig. 137. Ammodytes tobianus, 
with the body in transverse section, a scale, and a head with opened mouth. After Benecke. 
R. hr. 7; I). (51) 55 — 62 (64); A. (26) 29—33; P. 12—15; 
V. 0; C. x + 1 + 13 + 1 + x ; L. lat. 120 — 145; Vert. 62 — 63. 
Syn. Enchelyopus No. 6, Klein, 1. c., p. 55, tab. XII, fig. 8 et 9 ; 
Ammodytes, Art., 1. c.; The Launce , Penn., Brit. Zool. 
(London, Warrington, 1776) vol. Ill, p. 137. 
Ammodytes tobianus, Lesauv., 1. c.; Gthr, 1. c., p. 385; 
Steind., 1. c.; Coll., Forh. Vid. Selsk. Christ. 1874, 
Tilleegsh., p. 126; Malm, Gbys, Boh. Fn., p. 500; Win- 
ther, 1. c.; Bncke, 1. c., p. 100; Mor., 1. o., p. 218; 
Day, 1. c., p. 331, tab. XCII, fig. 2; Mob., Hcke, 1. c., 
p. 86. 
This character is not noticed by Costa, either in his description or figure. 
