FISHES OF CHESAPEAKE BAY 
187 
Chesapeake localities. — (a) Previous records: None. (6) Specimens in collection: From Cape 
Charles, Va. Another specimen was taken by Capt. L. G. Harron in Hampton Roads, Va., on 
September 18, 1899. 
Order PERCOMORPHI 
Family XLV. — ATHERIN1D/E. The silversides 
Body rather elongate, more or less compressed; cleft of mouth moderate or rather small; teeth 
small, present on jaws, sometimes on vomer and palatines, rarely wanting; gill membranes separate, 
free from the isthmus; gills 4, a slit behind the fourth; branchiostegal 5 or 6; pseudobranchiae present; 
scales moderate or small, cycloid or not; no pyloric cceca; air bladder present; dorsal fins two, the 
first with three to nine flexible spines, the second with one weak spine and with soft rays; anal fin 
similar to and usually longer than second dorsal; ventrals abdominal, with one small spine and 
five soft rays; sides with a silvery lateral stripe. The silversides are small fishes living in salt or 
fresh water. 
KEY TO THE GENEEA 
a. Scales with smooth margins; base of dorsal and anal without scales Menidia, p. 187 
.aa. Scales rough, with strongly lacinate margins; base of dorsal and anal each with a sheath of 
large decidious scales Membras, p. 191 
71. Genus MENIDIA Bonaparte. Smooth-scaled silversides 
Margins of scales entire; no scales on base of dorsal and anal. Two species of this genus are 
common in Chesapeake Bay. 
KEY TO THE SPECIES 
a. Scales in lateral series 44 to 50 (15 to 18 oblique rows on side from upper angle of gill opening 
to origin of spinous dorsal); anal with I, 20 to 26 (usually 22 to 25) rays; peritoneum 
black menidia, p. 187 
aa. Scales in lateral series 37 to 41 (12 to 14 oblique rows on sides between upper angle of gill open- 
ing and origin of spinous dorsal); anal with I, 14 to 20 (usually 15 to 18) rays; peritoneum 
silvery, with or without dark punctulations berijllina, p. 189 
93. Menidia menidia (Linnaeus). Silverside; “ Dotted silverside.” 
Aiherina vienidia Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. XII, 1766, p. 519; Charleston, S. C. 
Chirostoma notata Uhlor and Lugger, 1876, ed. I, p. 139; ed. II, p. 119. (Probably two or more species confused.) 
Menidia notata, Bean, 1891, p. 92; Smith, 1892, p. 69; Jordan and Evermann, 1896-1900, p. 800; Evermann and Hildebrand, 
1910, p. 160. 
Menidia menidia Kendall, 1902, pp. 262 to 264; Jordan and Hubbs, 1919, p. 52. 
Menidia menidia notata Kendall, 1902, pp. 262 to 264; Fowler, 1912, p. 54. 
Head, 4.15 to 4.7; depth, 4.3 to 6.95; D. Ill to VII — I, 7 to 10 (usual formula IV to VI — I, 8 
or 9); A. I, 20 to 26 (usual formula I, 22 to 25); scales, 44 to 50 (15 to 18 oblique rows on sides 
between upper angle of gill opening and origin of spinous dorsal). Body variable, very slender to 
moderately deep and compressed; caudal peduncle rather long, its depth 2.2 to 3 in head; head 
depressed above, narrower below; snout moderately long, pointed, its length 2.7 to 3.75 in head; 
eye, 2.75 to 3.75; interorbital, 3.35 to 3.8; mouth small, moderately oblique, nearly terminal, the 
lower jaw being slightly included; teeth in the jaws pointed, in narrow bands, with the outer series 
somewhat enlarged; scales firm, with margins entire, extending somewhat on the base of caudal 
but not on the soft dorsal and anal; origin of spinous dorsal rather variable, sometimes about 
equidistant from tip of snout and base of caudal, more usually nearer the latter, the predorsal 
distance 1.75 to 2 in length to base of caudal; second dorsal situated over middle of anal base; 
caudal fin moderately forked; anal fin long, its base about an eye’s diameter longer than head; 
ventral fins small, inserted equidistant from tip of snout and end of anal base, or more usually 
somewhat nearer the former; pectoral fins moderate, pointed, 1 to 1.3 in head. 
Color greenish above; more or less silvery, with metallic luster in life below; sides with a bright 
silvery, well-defined band, about half diameter of eye, bounded above by a dark line; scales on 
