37. CLUPEIDJE BREVOORTIA. 260 



ing nearly to middle of orbit. Gill-rakers very long and slender. Dor- 

 sal fin inserted in front of ventrals, much nearer snout than base of cau- 

 dal. Dorsal filament about as long as head. Anal very low. Paired 

 fins small. Scales rather firm, smooth. Head 4; depth 3i in length. 

 D. 19; A. 24; Lat. 1. 50; scutes 17 -f 14. Atlantic coasts of America, 

 chiefly southward, the flesh said to be sometimes poisonous. 



(Clnpca thrissa Osbeck, Reise, 336: Clupea thrissa Giinther, vii, 432: CJupea libertatis 

 Gunther, vii, 433, Pacific coast of Central and South America, is at least very similar. ) 



125. BREVOORTIA Gill. 

 Menhadens. 



(Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Jsci. Pbila. 1861, 37: type dupea menhaden Mitch. = Clupc 

 tyrannus Latrobe.) 



Body elliptical, compressed, deepest anteriorly, tapering behind. 

 Head very large. Cheeks deeper than long. Mouth large, the lower 

 jaw included. No teeth. Gill-rakers very long and slender, densely 

 set. Gill-arches angularly bent. Scales deeper than long, closely im- 

 bricated, their exposed edges vertical, and fluted or pectinated. Dor- 

 sal fin low, rather posterior. Anal fin small. Intestinal canal elongate. 

 Peritoneum dusky. Species few, inhabiting the Atlantic. (Dedicated 

 to J. Carson Brevoort.) 

 * Scales with their edges entire, fluted. 



449. B. patronus Goode. 



Head larger than in B. tyrannus. Fins lon-g, the height of the dorsal 

 greater than the length of the maxillary; that of the anal more than 

 half the height of the maxillary. Pectorals reaching beyond front of 

 ventrals; insertion of dorsal in front of ventrals, just behind the middle 

 point between the snout and the base of the caudal. Scales moderate, 

 with their margins entire, fluted. Axillary appendages large. Large 

 scales at base of pectoral. Operculum delicately striated. Greenish 

 gray above; sides silvery, with brassy lustre; scapular blotch incon- 

 spicuous. Head 3 in length; depth 2f. D. 19; A. 22; Lat. 1. 50-65. 

 Gulf of Mexico. (Goode.) 



(Goode, Proc. U. S Nat. Mus. i, 39, 1878.) 



** Scales everywhere with their edges strongly serrated. 



450. B. tyrannus* (Latrobe) Goode. Menhaden; Mossbwnker; Bony -fish; Wldtc- 



Jish; Bug-fish; Fat-back ; Yellow-tail. 



Head and jaws shorter than in B. patronus. Fins comparatively short, 



*A parasitic Crustacean ( Oniscus prcegustator Latrobe) is found in the mouthsof a very 

 large proportion of the individuals of this species. The specific names both of the fish 

 and the Crustacean refer to this psculiarity, the ancient Roman rulers (tyranni) having 

 had their tasters (prcegustatores) to taste their food before them, to prevent poisoning. 



