FISHES OF NEW YORK 191 



below it quite to the belly. The white reflects vividly green^ 

 red, and other splendid hues. Head rather elongated. Lower 

 jaw projecting. 



Scales very easily deciduous. Form neat, taper, and slender. 

 Gills rise into the throat on each side of the root of the tongue. 

 Eyes pale and large. Tail deeply forked. On account of the 

 even connection of the false ribs, the belly is not at all serrated, 

 but quite smooth. A semitransparent space in front of the eyes- 

 from side to side. 



Rays: Br. 7; P. 16; V. 9; I). 18; A. 15; C. 19. 



This species was not taken in Great South bay, but on the 

 ocean beach adjacent to the Blue Point lifesaving station. 



It is the slender herring described by Dr DeKay from a single 

 specimen taken with a seine in New York harbor in the latter 

 part of October. He found it associated with numerous speci- 

 mens of the big-eyed herring, Elops saurus. DeKay states- 

 that the Elops appeared to be known to the fishermen as the 

 round herring, but the name is more applicable to the little 

 species now under consideration. Several specimens were 

 seined on the ocean beach at Blue Point Lifesaving station, Octo- 

 ber 7. None w^ere obtained in the bay. September 24, 51 exam- 

 ples of this fish were found lying on the beach, in the vicinity of 

 the same station, having been driven ashore by bluefish. In 

 August 1890 great schools of round herring were stranded in 

 this way. Prof. Baird found a number of specimens along the 

 beach of Great Egg Harbor bay in 1854, and a single specimen 

 was seined by Capt, Thomas Steelman in the same locality in 

 October 1887. 



Young individuals, from H to 4| inches long, were taken in 

 Gravesend bay July 30, 1896. They were associated with young 

 mackerel, of slightly larger size, in bunches and schools. John 

 B. DeNyse saw some schools that he estimated to contain 25,000 

 fish. 



Dr Smith says it is apparently rare at Woods Hole; known to 

 have been found on only a few occasions. In October, some 

 years ago, several were taken in traps at Menemsha bight, 

 Marthas Vinevard. 



