V61 
AMMODYTES 
The body lengthened, almost cylindrical, with lines or folds along 
the length of the body, distinct from a lateral line. Jaws protruded 
before the eyes, pointed, the lower longest, with a fleshy pointed 
termination. Boreal and anal fins long, but not united to the tail. 
No ventral fins, and consequently a portion of the apodal class of 
Linnaeus: no air bladder. 
This little family of fishes obtains its English name from the shape 
of their body, which at the front ends in a point, and at the tail 
is so spread out as to form a distant resemblance to the butt-end 
of the warlike instrument signified by the denomination; while the 
lengthened and almost cylindrical body answers to the shaft. In 
some places these fishes are also called' Sand Eels, which answers to 
the Greek word by which the genus is discriminated. They stand 
as an insulated group, both in regard to form and habits, amongst 
the native fishes of Britain. 
LESSER LAUNCE. 
Sand Eel. — Two species are comprised within the name of 
Tobianus by Willoughby, p. 113, and Ammodytes tohianus 
of Linnaeus. 
Ammodytes tobianus, 
“ lancea. 
CoviEH. 
Jenyns; Manual, p. 483. 
Yarrell; British Fishes, vol. ii, p. 429. 
Gunther; Cat. Br. Museum, vol. iv, p. 385. 
if 
This little fish is an inhabitant generally of the more sandy 
shores of the British Islands, and it rarely goes far from them 
into deep water. They swim in companies of a few scores 
or hundreds, and in the quiet days of summer are seen at a 
small depth in the water as they are pursuing their lively 
course in bays or harbours — where, however, their fate is 
usually an unfortunate one. Unable to protect themselves, 
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