THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 347 



north. Dr. DeKay does not enumerate it among the fishes of New- 

 York, yet several have been procured by Mr. Brevoort about Long 

 Island. 



48. Engraulis vittata, B and G. 



The Anchor]). 



E-ngraidis vittata, B and G. — EiigrauUs mitchilli, Cuv. and Yah, Hist. 

 Nat. Poiss., XXI. — Clupea vittata, Mitch. — DeKay, New York Fauna, 

 Fishes, 254. 



It is a little remarkable that no mention of the occurrence o{ Engrau- 

 lis on the Atlantic coast of the United States, is made by any Ameri- 

 can writer. The species was long ago described by Dr. Mitchill, so 

 accurately as clearly to indicate this genus ; but Dr. DeKay does not 

 appear to have noticed it at all. 



The anchovy made its appearance early in August in the shal- 

 low waters along the beach, although of very small size. They 

 became subsequently more abundant ; and towards the end ot the 

 month, while hauling a large net in the surf, many were taken measur- 

 ing over six inches in length. As the meshes of the net were very 

 large, the greater portion readily escaped ; but with a seine properly 

 constructed enough could be readily procured to supply the American 

 market. 



I procured several specimens of this fish, in 1847, at the residence 

 of Mr. Audubon, on the Hudson river, above New York. 



49. Alosa menhaden, Mitch. 



The Moss-BonTcer — Bony Fish — Hard Head. 



Alom menhaden, Mitch. — Storer, Rep., p. 117. — De Kay, New York 

 Fauna, Fishes, 259, plate xxi, fig. 60. 



Back dark green, shading into yellowish, silvery on the sides and 

 beneath. Iris silvery. A rounded dark spot behind the upper part of 

 the operculum, and five or six smaller ones, less distinct, in a longi- 

 tudinal row behind it, the latter sometimes indistinct. All the spots are 

 on the skin, show'ing through the transparent scales. 



D. and C. yellowish, with a dark margin ; the remaining fins color- 

 less. 



The moss-bonker is a fish of great economical importance, as much 

 so, perhaps, as any other on our coast. This is not on account of its 

 flesh, which, though sw^eet, is too full of bones to be generally accept- 

 able ; as a manure, however, it replaces all other fertilizers on and 

 near the sea-shore. 



