188 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



longer than upper, its length equal to that of the head. D. iii,. 

 10; A. ii, 31. Scales 56 to 64, about 20 in a transverse series. 

 Scutes in front of ventrals 17, and from ventral to vent 12. 

 Upper parts bluish; sides silvery, sometimes with golden reflec- 

 tions. In young individuals there is a large dark blotch on 

 each side not far behind the head. This disappears with age. 



The mud shad, also known as gizzard shad, winter shad, stink 

 shad, white-eyed shad, hickory shad, hairy back, and thread 

 herring, is found in brackish waters along the coast from New 

 York southward to Mexico, ascending streams and frequently 

 becoming landlocked in ponds. A variety of this fish is aisi> 

 common in the Ohio and Mississippi valleys, whence it ha» 

 spread through canals into Lakes Erie and Michigan. 



Cuvier and Valenciennes had the species from New York,, 

 whence it was sent bv Milbert. De Kay mentions it onlv as an 

 extralimital fish; but in his time the fish fauna of Lake Erie 

 was very little known. 



This fish grows to a length of 15 inches and a weight of 2 

 pounds. It spawns in summer, and its food consists of algae, 

 confervae, desmids and diatoms. With its food it takes large 

 quantities of mud, from which it separates the organic sub- 

 stances after swallowing. This is a beautiful species, some- 

 what resembling the shad in general appearance and has been 

 very successfully kept in the aquarium, where its bright colors 

 and graceful movements make it attractive, but its flesh is soft, 

 tasteless and seldom eaten when any better can be obtained. 

 In most regions fishermen consider it a great nuisance and 

 throw away their entire catch. Negroes eat the mud shad from 

 tributaries of the Chesapeake, and in Florida the fish has been 

 utilized to some extent in making guano. The name gizzard 

 shad alludes to the form of the stomach, which is very muchi 

 like that of a hen. 



Family cluf'Eiidae 



Herrings 

 Body oblong or elongate, more or less compressed, covered 

 with cycloid or pectinated scales; belly sometimes rounded, 

 sometimes compressed, in wliicli case it is often armed with 



