266 NATURAL HISTORY. 



CLUPIDiE, Cuv. 



54. Clupea elongata, Les. 



DeKay, N. Y. Fauna, f. p. 250. 



A species of clupea, whicli agreed in most respects with the C. elon- 

 gata, Les., as described by that naturalist, was exposed in our markets 

 in quite large numbers during the months of March and April, The 

 market men called them '^' English herring;" one of them told me 

 they were sent from Nova Scotia, and another, from St. John's, New 

 Brunswick. They were sold at eight cents a pound. Dr. DeKay has 

 committed a great error in his description of the species. 



55. Alosa praestabilis, DeKay. 



DeKay, N. Y. Fauna, fi. p. 255, fig. 41. 



The shad is sent to our city from Charleston (S. C.) in considerable 

 numbers as early as the latter part of January and February, but does 

 not arrive on our own coast until March. An average sized fish sells in 

 early spring at seventy-five cents to a dollar, and sometimes even 

 more ; but as the season advances, and they become more plenty, the 

 price is reduced to about twenty-five cents each. 



56. Alosa tyrannus, {Latrohe) jDeKay , 

 DeKay, N. Y. Fauna, fi. p. 258, fig. 38. 

 Sent to market occasionally in spring. 



57. Alosa menhaden, {Mit.) Storer. 

 DeKay, N. Y. Fauna, p. 259, fig. 60. 



Mossbunkers appear in the markets in the fall months ; but in no 

 great quantity. ' 



58. Alosa mattowacca, {Mlt.^De Kay. 

 DeKay, N. Y. Fauna, fi. p. 260, fig. 127. 



The fall herring is rather common in autumn and winter. A few 

 appear towards the end of summer. 



COELACANTHS, Agassiz. 



59. Amia occiDENTALis, Z^e^ai/. 



DeKay, N. Fauna, p. 269, fig. 125. 



A single specimen of this ganoid, about two feetlong^ was ofiered for 

 sale in Washington market on the fifteenth of May, 1855. I could 

 learn nothing in regard to it from the fishmonger on whose stand it 

 was. It appeared to be totally unknown to him, and he could not 

 even tell me the name of it. 



