CLUPEID.E. 



sured again from thence backwards, falls far short of the end 

 of the fleshy portion of the tail ; the base of the last dorsal 

 fin-ray is half-way between the point of the nose and the end 

 of the caudal rays ; the longest ray of the dorsal fin is as long 

 as the base of the fin ; the ventral fins, without axillary scales, 

 are placed a little behind the line of the commencement of 

 the dorsal fin ; the base of the anal fin, occupying about 

 two-fifths of the space between the ventral fin and the end 

 of the fleshy portion of the tail, is shorter than the anal fin 

 in the Allice Shad, and has five rays less, beginning also 

 more forward : the tail deeply forked ; the caudal rays with 

 two thin membranous appendages on each side, parallel to 

 the seventh and thirteenth caudal rays, about an inch in 

 length by three-eighths deep ; all four membranes opening 

 from the centre, being attached by the outer edge only. 

 The scales of the body rather larger in proportion than those 

 of the Allice ; the lateral line, as in most of the Clupeidte, 

 scarcely perceptible. The abdomen strongly serrated. The 

 lower jaw the longest, with a few teeth anteriorly ; the 

 upper jaw with a deep central notch, and a row of small 

 teeth on the edge down each side. The breadth of the eye 

 equal to one-fourth of the length of the head ; the mucous 

 vessels on the surface of the gill-covers beautifully arbores- 

 cent ; the top of the head and back dusky blue, with brown 

 and green reflections in particular points of view ; from the 

 upper edge of the operculum a row of five or six dark spots 

 extend in a line backwards, the last generally the most in- 

 distinct, the number sometimes more than six ; the irides, 

 sides of the head and body, silvery white, with a tinge of 

 copper colour ; dorsal and caudal fins dusky ; pectoral, ven- 

 tral, and anal fins white. This species is immediately dis- 

 tinguished from the Allice Shad by possessing teeth, the 

 lateral spots, and the smaller anal fin. The fin-rays in 

 number are 



D. 18 : P. 15 : V. 9 : A. 21 : C. 19. Vertebrae 55. 



