SHOBT-SNOUTEB LAUNCB. 
145 
three or four inches, while that one which came under my 
notice measured a little more than eleven inches and a half; 
but on the other hand he so far departs from his own assigned 
length as to give a figure which measiu'cs a little more than 
five inches and a half; and so confined has been his observation 
of these fishes, that no other species finds a place in his book. 
Compared with a Wide-mouthed Launce of about the same 
size, the shape of this fish was rather more stout and angular, 
and this stoutness was carried nearer to the tail, so that it 
became contracted more suddenly between the termination of 
the dorsal and anal fins and the tail. At the union of the 
bodv with the caudal fin also there was more decidedly a 
heart-shaped termination than in the Wide-mouthed species. 
But a more distinguishing difference between the two was in 
the head, before the eyes; this portion being much less thrust 
forward, so that the point of the U])per jaw was more rounded, 
and to a less extent capable of being bent up, and the gape 
much less, — the mystache did not extend above one third of the 
space toward the eye; and although indeed the eye was not 
situated immediately above the angle of the mouth, as expressed 
in Rafinesque’s specific character, it stood nearer to that point 
than in the Wide-mouthed species. The point of the lower jaw 
also was much less protruded. Along the belly there ran seven 
longitudinal lines, of which those on the median line were 
close together, and the two next were bordered with a slender 
membrane, which may be of some use as organs of sensation. 
The oblique lures on the sides were finely grained, but theh 
number was not counted. The dorsal and anal fins appeared 
wider than in the more common species. Colour of the back 
and top of the head fine blue, which does not come down to 
the lateral line, as I have usually observed it in the Wide- 
mouthed Launce; sides, belly, and cheeks silvery: the longi- 
tudinal line next above the ventral line whiter than the rest of 
this surface: the tail more expanded than in the other species, 
with a white border on its under edge. 
This example came to me on the first of December, and 
was distended with roe. 
VOL. lU. 
U 
