278 
NATURAL HISTORY 
rays in the fin next the atius. It is found in the northern 
seas, and is very plentiful in the sea near Southampton, 
and on other coasts of Great Britain, The length is 
about five inches, and the tail is much forked. It is a 
beautiful little fish, semi-pellucid, covered with scales; 
the colour silvery, tinged with yellow; beneath the side 
line is a row of small black spots, and the under jaws 
rather prominent; in the front of the upper are four large 
teeth: the flesh is tender, and of a delicate taste. 
The other species called the menidea, has twenty-four 
rays in the fin next the anus. This is a very small pel- 
lucid fish, with many black points interspersed: it has 
many teeth in the lips, but none in the tongue or jaws. 
It is found in the fresh waters of Carolina.— The skin of 
this fish is in general so thin, that with a good micros- 
cope the circulation of its blood may be seen. 
The smelt is to be angled for (when the tide runs up is 
preferable) with a paternoster line, having five or six 
hooks as many inches from each other, and baited diffe- 
rently. The best baits are very small shrimps not boiled, 
or the tail of a boiled one; next to these are gentles and 
red paste; also that made of boiled shrimps, fine white 
bread, and a little honey, cadis blood worms; and they will 
sometimes take a bit of their own species. Some crumbs 
of bread should now and then be thrown in to keep them 
together. 
These fish are taken in abundance in the Thames and 
Dee (England,) in November and the two succeeding 
months; in other rivers not until February. 
Anchovy. (PI. 48.) The anchovy is about three 
inches long, though mention is made of some being six 
inches and a half. The nose is pointed; the edge of the 
jaws finely serrated, the upper being longer than the un- 
der: the eyes large; the body round and slender; the 
back of a dusky green colour; the sides and belly of a 
silvery white; between the ventral fins it has a long 
pointed scale, and the tail is forked. 
At different seasons it frequents the Atlantic ocean 
and the Mediteranean sea, passing through the St) eights 
of Gibralter towards the Levant in the months of May, 
