PLATE XVI. Fig. 1. Nat. size.
Fig. 2. _a_, _b_. Magnified scales.
_A. gracilis; corporis altitudine partem octavam, capite quintam,
longitudinis æquante: oculis mediocribus: maxillis subæqualibus, parum
protractilibus; commissurâ primum horizontali, deinde paulo deflexâ,
haud oculos attingente: dentibus velutinis, serie externâ supra
subtusque fortiori: dorsali primâ omnino pone ventrales reclinatas
locatâ: squamis parvis, seriebus longitudinalibus octodecim ad minimum
dispositis._
D. 5—1/11; A. 1/17; C. 17, &c. P. 15; V. 1/5.
LONG. unc. 4.
FORM.—More slender and elongated than the generality of the species in
this genus. Greatest depth not more than one-eighth of the entire
length. Head one-fifth of the same. Greatest thickness (in the
region of the gills) equalling two-thirds of the depth, or rather
more. Ventral line of the body scarcely more curved than the dorsal.
The upper profile falls, though very slightly, from the nape to the
mouth, and the lower profile inclines upwards to meet it at about
the same degree of curvature. Head broad, its breadth across the
crown nearly equalling its depth. Snout horizontally rounded. Jaws
nearly equal; not so protractile as in some other species: the
commissure of the lips at first horizontal, but posteriorly
inclining a little downward, and scarcely reaching more than
half-way to the eye. In each jaw two rows of slender very distinct
teeth, with traces of a third or even fourth row above, towards the
middle: outer row longest and most conspicuous, consisting, in the
upper jaw, of from forty-five to fifty teeth; in the lower of
scarcely more than twenty-five. No teeth that can be seen on the
vomer or palatines, though a slight roughness can be felt on both.
Eyes of moderate size; their diameter rather more than one-fourth
the length of the head; almost entirely before the middle, as well
as above it: space between the eyes flat, and exceeding the diameter
by about one-third: a slightly elevated line on each side of this
space, but no other conspicuous sculpture. Opercle with the
descending margin sloping obliquely forwards.
Crown, cheeks, and gill-covers scaly, the scales on the crown
extending as far as the eyes. Scales on the body small, the number
of longitudinal rows amounting to eighteen or twenty: in form
nearly square, the length a little exceeding the breadth, the
superficies marked with numerous very distinct concentric lines,
the basal half with a fan of from four to six deeper-cut striæ,
the basal margin rather sinuous, and obsoletely crenate where the
striæ meet it. No lateral line very distinguishable.
[Illustration:
_Fish. Pl. 16._
_Drawn from Nature on Stone by Waterhouse Hawkins._
]
_1. Atherina microlepidota._ _Nat. Size._
_1a._ _1b._ „ „ _magnified Scales._
_2 Atherina incisa._ _Nat. Size._
_2a._ „ „ _magnified Scale._
_2b._ „ „ _Twice Nat. Size._
First dorsal small and delicate, commencing exactly at the middle
point of the entire length, measuring this last to the bottom of
the caudal fork, and in a line with the tips of the ventrals,
these last fins being laid back. Space between the first and
second dorsals a little exceeding two-thirds of the depth of the
body. Length and height of the second dorsal equal to each other,
and also to the space just alluded to. From the end of the second
dorsal to the commencement of the caudal is exactly one-sixth of
the entire length. The posterior half of the anal nearly answers
to the second dorsal, but the two fins do not terminate exactly in
the same line, the dorsal extending a little the furthest. Caudal
forked for about half its length. Pectorals about two-thirds the
length of the head. Ventrals attached at a point beyond the
extremity of the pectorals. Breadth of the silver band about
one-fifth the depth of the body.
COLOUR.—Not noticed in the recent state. In spirits, the back and
sides above the silver band are brownish, with the contour of each
scale marked out by black dots. All below the band appears to have
been silvery. The band itself is not very brilliant. Both the
dorsals, as well as the caudal, are dusky: anal and ventrals pale.
A _second specimen_ does not differ from the above, excepting
slightly in the fin-ray formula, which is as follows: