37. CLUPEIDiE BREVOORTIA. 
2G9 
ill" nearly to middle of orbit. Q^ill-rakers very long and slender. Dor- 
sal fin inserted in front of ventrals, much nearer snout than base of cau- 
dctl. Dorsal filament about as long as head. Anal very low. Paired 
fins small. Scales rather firm, smooth. Head 4; depth 3.} in length. 
D. 10 5 A. 24; Lat. 1. 50; scutes 17 + 14. Atlantic coasts of America, 
chiefly southward, the flesh said to be sometimes poisonous. 
{Chipea thrissa Osbeck, Reise, 336: Clupca ihrissa Giinther, vii, 432: Chipea liberlatis 
Giintlier, vii, 433, Pacific coast of Central and South America, is at least very similar.) 
125.— BREVOORTIA Gill. 
Menhadens. 
(Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1861, 37: type Clupea menhaden Mitch. = C/wpe 
iyrannus Latrobe.) • 
Body elliptical, compressed, deepest anteriorly, tapering behind. 
Dead very large. Cheeks deeper than long. Month large, the lower 
jaw included. Xo teeth. Gill-rakers very long and slender, densely 
set. Gill-arches angularly bent. Scales deeper than long, closely im- 
bricated, their exposed edges vertical, and fluted or pectinated. Dor- 
sal fin low, rather posterior. Anal fin small. Intestinal canal elongate. 
Peritoneum dusky. Species few, inhabiting the Atlantic. (Dedicated 
to J. Carson Brevoort.) 
* Scales with their edges entire, fluted. 
449. B. patroiiiis Goode. 
Head larger than in B. tyrannus. Fins long, the height of the dorsal 
greater than the length of the maxillary; that of the anal more than 
half the height of the maxillary. Pectorals reaching beyond front of 
ventrals; insertion of dorsal in front of ventrals, just behind the middle 
point between the snout and the base of the caudal. Scales moderate, 
with their margins entire, fluted. Axillary appendages large. Large 
scales at base of pectoral. Operculum delicately striated. Greenish 
gray above; sides silvery, with brassy lustre; scapidar blotch incon- 
spicuous. Head 3 in length; depth 2|. D. 19; A. 22; Lat. 1. 50-05. 
Gulf of Mexico. {Goode.) 
(Goode, Proc. U. S Nat. Mus. i, 39, 1878.) 
“^Scales everywhere with their edges strongly serrated. 
450. B. tyrannus* (Latrobe) Goode. — Menhaden; Mosshunlccr ; Bony -fish; White- 
fish; Bug -fish ; Fat-hack; Yellow-tail. 
Head and jaws shorter than in B. patromis. Fins comparatively short, 
*A parasitic Crustacean ( Oniscus preegustator Latrobe) is found in the mouthsof a very 
large proportion of the individuals of this species. The specific names both of the fish 
and the Crustacean refer to this p cnliarity, the ancient Roman rulers (b/ranni) having 
had their tasters {preegustatores) to taste their food before them, to prevent poisoning. 
