HERRINGS. 243 



thousands of a minute species of shrimp, not 

 larger than a flea. . . . The abundance of this 

 food must be enormous, if, as there can be no 

 doubt was the case, all the schulls on the coast 

 were as well fed as the individuals I examined." 

 The Herring on the coast of Norway feeds upon a 

 minute species of shrimp, the Astacus harengwn 

 of Fabricius. The number of these minute crea- 

 tures swimming in the sea during summer, is so 

 incalculable, that a vessel dipped into the water 

 will be found to have inclosed thousands. So 

 great is the eagerness of the Herrings for these 

 shrimps, that they follow them wherever they may 

 chance to be driven by tides or currents ; and by 

 constantly feeding on them, the bellies of the 

 fishes acquire a ruddy tinge, occasioned, according 

 to Stroem, by a reddish humour contained in these 

 minute marine insects, but more probably, as we 

 think, explained by the effect of the gastric juice 

 of the fish, loliich turns all Crustacea red, just as 

 hoiling does. 



Besides these, other creatures contribute to 

 furnish food to the Herring tribe. Small medusae, 

 shelled mollusca, flies, the spawn and the young 

 fry of other fishes, are all found to be agreeable 

 to them. Mr. Yarrell was informed that the 

 fishermen in the Bay of Biscay throw^ large quan- 

 tities of the salted roe of fish about their nets, to 

 attract Pilchards, and much of this substance is 

 found in the stomachs of such as are caught. 

 The Pilchard has been known to take a hook 

 baited with a worm, and Herrings to bite at the 

 artificial fly of an angler. They do not scruple to 

 indulge even a cannibal appetite ; for, according 

 to Dr. Neill, five young Herrings have been found 



