94 PILCHARD. 



Papers by Mr. Richard Quiller Couch, in the "Zoologist" for 

 1847. 



The ordinary size of a Pilchard is about ten inches in length, 

 with a depth of one inch and three fourths; but it has been 

 seen of the length of fourteen inches; plump and moderately 

 compressed, with the body covered with scales that are easily 

 lost. The head a little flattened on the top, nostrils nearer the 

 snout, under jaw a very little the longest, no perceptible teeth; 

 a broad circularly-formed mystache, which passes back to the 

 front of the eye, which organ is moderately large. The gill- 

 covers are formed of numerous plates, the hindmost with diverging 

 rays passing downward. Along the belly a firm ridge or series 

 of peculiarly-formed scales; and those at the union of the head 

 and body are obscurely striated; the others simple. The single 

 dorsal fin is placed at the centre of gravity of the fish, with 

 eighteen rays; anal fin narrow and far behind; pectoral near 

 the termination of the hindmost gill-cover, and not reaching 

 opposite the first rays of the dorsal; the rays sixteen; ventral 

 fins with short wings, and eight branched rays; the tail deeply 

 divided, with twenty-two perfect rays. Colour of the back 

 greyish blue, more blue or green in the younger examples; the 

 belly white; sometimes pink tints on the sides; a golden spot 

 sometimes on the upper part of the gill-cover. Sometimes for 

 a whole season they are found with a row of spots on the sides, 

 as in the Scadina, fAlosa Fintci,) as is remarked by Willoughby; 

 but these spots appear as if caused by disease, the fish thus 

 marked being less than the usual size, soft in texture, and unfit 

 for being cured. Our supposed Sardine is also commonly thus 

 marked. Individuals have been seen having no dorsal fin, 

 and also with the tail of twice the usual size. 



