SPRAT. 201 



sklerable convexity of the dorsal and abdominal lines ; the 

 latter serrated before the ventral fins, and still more strongly 

 so behind them : the tail deeply forked ; the scales large, 

 round, and deciduous ; the upper part of the head and back 

 dark blue, with green reflections passing into silvery white on 

 the gill-covers, sides, and belly ; the dorsal and caudal fins 

 dusky ; pectoral, ventral, and anal fins white. The fin-rays 

 in number are 



D. 17 : P. 15 : V. 7 : A. 18 : C. 19. Vertebra 48. 



By the kindness of Mr. London, I have received some 

 small fish which came from Riga, where they are called Kil- 

 kies, and are eaten as a whet before dinner. They proved to 

 be our Sprat. At Reval, and other places in the gulf of 

 Finland, young Herrings (Stromling), when about the size of 

 Sprats, are prepared with spices, and sent to Petersburgh, 

 London, and other places, for the use of the table. These 

 are also in some estimation as a relish for lunch, from their 

 peculiar flavour, and are sold in small jars, labelled Kilo 

 Stromelein. 



