^112 argentine. 
iC7 
Genus L . — 1 he Argentina *. 
O? tills genus there are two fpecies ; the one peculiar 
to the American feas, termed by Linnxus the Argentina 
Carolina ; and the other found in the European and fome- 
times in the Britijh feas. The European argentine is 
moll frequently feen in the Mediterranean : Willoughby, 
who examined one at Rome, fays, that the outfide of the 
air bladder confifts of a foiiaceous filvery Ikin, which 
was made ufe of in the manufa&ure of artificial pearl f . 
The fnout of this fmall fifli is fliarp and prominent ; 
the body round and tapering, feldom exceeding two inches 
in length. The back and fides, as far as the lateral lines, 
are a pale afh colour, mixed with green : The belly, and 
parts below thefe lines, are exactly coloured as if covered 
with filver leaf. The mouth is fmall, without teeth, ex- 
cepting fome afperities refembling them upon the roof of 
the mouth, and the tip of the tongue. The eyes are 
large ; the ir'rdes filvery ; and on the forehead is a patch 
of dark purple. The dorfal fin is placed near the equili- 
brium of the fifti, and fupported with ten foft rays. 
There are two pectoral, two ventral, and an anal fin, 
near to the tail, which is bifurcated. 
* Argentina Sphyrxna, Lin. Syft. Pifciculus Romx, Argentina di&us, 
fyiU, t Willough. 325. 
L 1 a 
