256 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



longer than the twelfth. On each side of its base is a series of smaller scales, not conform- 

 ing to the general plan. Pectorals moderate, with a broad accessory scale beneath, and a 

 slight groove above ; its first ray is about an inch above the thoracic outline, simple, and 

 shorter than the two following. Ventrals feeble, pointed, near the edge of the belly, and one 

 inch behind a line vertical from the first dorsal ray. It has a broad emarginate accessory 

 scale above, with a subacute tip ; the first ray simple, with a minute rudimentary ray attached 

 to its base ; the second longest, and, with the remainder, branched. Anal long, low and emar- 

 ginate, commences about five inches behind the base of the ventrals ; and the length of its 

 base, compared with that of the dorsal, is as ten to nine ; third and fourth rays longest, the 

 last nearly horizontal and equal in length to the sixth, the intermediate rays being shorter. 

 The first ray simple, about 0"4 long ; the succeeding ray also simple, and nearly as long as 

 the third ; the remainder branched. The caudal deeply forked, with minute scales ascending 

 high up on the rays, which are much branched, with the exception of the external entire rays. 

 They are all closely connected to each other, which renders their enumeration difficult. This 

 difficulty is increased by the presence of two membranous plates, or rather scaly appendages, 

 the use of which is entirely unknown. It may possibly serve as subsidiary to mucous secre- 

 tion. These plates (see figure) are on both sides of the fin, two on each side ; they are an 

 inch long, a quarter of an inch wide, narrow at the base, and wider and rounded at the tips, 

 which are free. Counting from the outer edge of the fin, the scale is attached by one edge 

 to the seventh ray on each side ; included between this and the corresponding scale opposite, 

 is a bundle of longitudinal fibres, the free edges being open toward the centre of the tail. 



Color. Head and back dark bluish. Sides of the body greenish, with blue and yellowish 

 changeable metallic reflections. Opercles with golden metallic tints, becoming greenish 

 beneath. An irregular dark spot, more or less distinct, behind the upper margin of the oper- 

 cles. Dorsal and caudal fins dark greenish brown. Pectorals tinged with dusky brown. 

 When the scales are detached, a series of from five to eight dark spots are observed along the 

 sides. "When the fish has been kept for some time, these spots are apparent through the 

 scales, but in the fresh unsealed fish are not seen. In stale fish, moreover, there are traces 

 of parallel lines along the sides. Pupils black ; irides yellow. 



Length, 21 -0. Depth, 6"0. Weight, 5 pounds. 

 Fin rays, D. 17 ; P. 16 ; V. 9 ; A. 20 ; C. 20 |. 



This beautiful and savory fish has hitherto been confounded with the Shad of Europe. 

 There are two species, one the A. finta, and the other A. vulgaris, which, until the time of 

 Cuvier, had been strangely confounded. The first is thirteen inches long, with distinct teeth 

 in the upper jaw, and a row of dark spots along the sides ; a coarse, dry and insipid fish. The 

 second, the A. vulgaris, or the Alike Shad of Yarrel (Vol. 2, p. 136), approaches more nearly 

 to our own in size and flavor. Its jaws are toothless, its sides without spots, and it has, like our 

 own Shad, a large dusky spot behind the opercle. Without the means of making a direct 

 comparison, we may note the following differences, suggested by the minute description of 



