270 CONTRIBUTIONS TO NORTPI AMERICAN ICHTHYOLOGY IV. 
the height of the dorsal less than the length of the maxillary; height of 
anal less than half the length of the maxillary. Pectorals not reaching 
to veiitrals. Dorsal inserted slightly behind ventrals, about midway 
between snout and base of caudal. Scales moderate, strongly serrated, 
arranged very irregularly. Opercnlnm strongly striated or almost smooth 
(var. Gill-rakers much longer than eye. Bluish above; sides 
silvery, with a strong brassy lustre ; fins usually yellowish ; a conspicuous 
dark scapinlar blotch, behind which are often smaller spots. Dead 3J ; 
depth 3. D. 19; A. 20; Lat. 1. 60-80; ventral plates 20 + 12. L. 12-18 
inches. New England to Brazil ; very abundant southward, spawniug in 
the sea. Held in no esteem as a food-fish, but very valuable for oil and 
manure; the young canned as sardines. 
(Clupea tyrannus Latrobe, Trans. Anier. Phil. Soc. Pbila. v, 77, 1802 ; Chipea menhaden 
Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. i, 453, 1814 : Clupea menhaden Giinther, vii, 436: 
Clupanodon aureus Agassiz, Spix. Pise. Bras. 52 (Brazilian var. aiirea Goode): Clupea 
aurea Giinther, vii, 4.37 : Alosa menhaden Storer, Hist. Fish. Mass. 337 ; Goode, Proc. U. S. 
Nat. Mns. i, 5, 31, 1878; Goode, Rept. U. S. Fish Comm, for 1877, complete biography.) 
Family XXXVIII.— DOROSOMATIDtE. 
[The Gizzard Shads.) 
Body short and deep, strongly compressed, covered with thin, decid- 
uous, cycloid scales. Belly compressed to an edge, which is armed with 
bony serratures. Head naked, short, rather small. Mouth small, in- 
ferior, oblique, overlapped by the blunt snout; no teeth. Maxillary 
narrow and short, with a single supplem utal bone, not extending to 
opposite the middle of the eye, and forming but a small portion of the 
lateral margin of the upiper jaw. IMandible short and deep, its rami 
enlarged at base. Premaxillary not protractile. Gill-rakers slender, 
exceedingly numerous, not very long, similar on all the arches. Gill- 
membranes not united, free from the isthmus. Pseudobrauchim large. 
An adipose eyelid. No lateral line. Dorsal fin about midway of the 
body, usually behind ventrals. Pectorals and ventrals moderate, each 
with an accessory scale. Anal very long and low. Caudal forked. No 
adipose fin. Stomach short, muscular, like the gizzard of a fowl. Genera 
2, species about 12. Mud-eating fishes of the coasts and rivers of warm 
regions, of little value as food. 
[Clupeidce group Chatoessina Giiuther, vii, 406-411.) 
* Last ray of dorsal produced iu a loug filament Douosoma, 126. 
