264 co:ntributions to north American ichthyology — iv. 



serrature. Mouth essentially as in Clupea. Teeth none, or minute and 

 deciduous. Gill-membranes separate, with about flat branchiostegals. 

 Pseudobranchice well developed. Dorsal opposite ventrals ; anal fin 

 short. Stomach with long, blind sac; j)yloric ctBca in moderate num- 

 ber. Pacific and Indian Oceans. {Spratellus, sprat', eloos, resemblance.) 



43§. S. feryoporMs Cope. 



Form compressed, moderately elongate. Belly rounded, except be- 

 tween ventral fins and vent, where it is angular. Maxillary Inoad, 

 flat, reaching to opposite middle of pupil. Ventrals a little in front of 

 middle of dorsal. Lower fins short. Pectorals 2^ in distance to ven- 

 trals. Golden; bluish above. Top of head with a bifurcate depression, 

 filled with delicate, branching mucous tubules; opercular and post- 

 frontal regions with similar tubes. Head 5; depth 4J. D. 18; A. 18; 

 scales 51-12. L. 14 inches. Coast of Alaska. {Cope.) 



(Cope, Proc. Amer. Phil. Soe. Pliila. 1873.) 



122.— CLUPEA Limiajus. 



Herrings. 



{Clupea, Alosa, Fomolobus, Meletta, Sprafella, etc., of uutliors.) 

 (LinniBUB, Syst. Nat. : type Clupea harengus L.) 



Body oblong, more or less compressed. Mouth moderate, terminal, 

 the jaws about equal, or the lower x)rojecting Teeth feeble, variously 

 placed, rarely absent. Mandibles very deep at base, shutting within 

 the maxillaries. Gill-rakers more or less long and slender, numerous. 

 Scales thin, cycloid, deciduous, entire, rounded posteriorly. Dorsal fin 

 rather short, nearly median, beginning in advance of ventrals, its pos- 

 terior ray not prolonged in a filament. Ventrals present. Anal mod- 

 erate. Belly compressed, more or less strongly serrated, at least be- 

 hind ventrals. Species very numerous ; found in all seas. (Latin clupea, 

 a herring.) 



Our species may be divided as follows : 



* Vomer with an ovate patch of teeth; ventral serratures weak ; herrings (Clupea). 



harengus, mirabilis. 

 ** Vomerine teeth none. 



t Cheeks longer than deej), the preoi)ercle j)roduce(i forward below. (Pojiolodus 

 Eaf.) 



a. Ventral serratures weak sagax. 



aa. Ventral serratures strong. 



h. Jaws with persistent teeth c/i ryaochlorin. 



J)l). Jaws without persistent teeth (Melktta Val.). 



mediocris, vernalis, wstivalis. 

 tt Cheeks deeper than long; shad (Alosa Cuvier) sapidintiima. 



