62 
AZURINE. 
the fins are always of a fine vermilion colour, but in the Blue 
Roach they are white. The head is small and depressed, the 
back arched; dorsal fin far behind, oeginning half-way between 
the posterior edge of the eye and the end of the scaly portion 
of the tail; half-way also between the first ray of the ventral 
and the anal fin, with nine or ten rays, the last double. The 
snout blunt, mouth small, without teeth. Pectoral fins long, 
reaching nearly to the origin of the ventrals, with sixteen rays. 
From the vent the body becomes much more slender; anal fin 
with twelve rays, the last ray double; caudal fin forked, with 
nineteen rays. 
That nothing may be omitted as regards this little-known 
species, I add my notes as taken from an example in my 
possession.— The length four inches and three fourths, depth 
one inch and a fourth at some distance before the dorsal fin; 
the slope forward, beginning at the furthest third of the pectoral, 
and descending rapidly forward. Gape narrow, jaws nearly 
equal; eyes large and much in front. Body compressed, 
diminishing backward from the front of the dorsal and from 
the vent. The anal fin begins opposite the termination of the 
dorsal. Pectorals low; ventrals rather large; scales also large. 
