37. CLUPEIDiE BREVOORTIA. 2G9 



ing nearly to middle of orbit. Gill-ralcers very long' and slender. Dor- 

 sal fin inserted in front of ventrals, nuicli nearer snout than base of cau- 

 dal. Dorsal filament about as long as head. Anal very low. Paired 

 fins small. Scales rather firm, smooth. Head 4; depth 3.^ in length, 

 D. 19; A. 24; Lat. 1. 50; scutes 17 + 14. Atlantic coasts of America, 

 chiefly southward, the flesh said to be sometimes poisonous. 



{Cli'.pca Ihrissa Osbcck, Keiso, 33G: Clnpca thrissa Glinther, vii, 432: Chipea liberlatis 

 Giiuther, vii, 433, Pacific coast of Central and South America, is at least very similar.) 



125.— BREVOORTIA Gill. 



Menhadens. 



(Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Wei. Pbila. 18G1, 37: type Chipea menliaden Mitch. = C/wpc 

 tijrannns Latrobe.) 



Body elliptical, compressed, deepest anteriorly, tapering behind. 

 Head very large. Cheeks deeper than long. Mouth large, the lower 

 jaw included. ]S"o 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, tinted. 



449. B. patroniis Goode. 



Head larger than in B. fyrannus. Fins long, the height of the dorsal 

 greater than the length of the maxillary; that of the anal more tl^an 

 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 stiiated. Greenish 

 gray above; sides silvery, with brassy lustre; scapular blotch incon- 

 spicuous. Head 3 in length; depth 2§. D. 19; A. 22; Lat. 1. 50-G5. 

 Gulf of Mexico. {Goode.) 



(Goode, Proc. U. S Nat. Mus. i, 39, 1878.) 

 *" Scales everywhere with their edges strongly serrated. 



450. B. tyrannus" (Latrobo) Goode. — Menhaden ; Mossh anker ; Bonij-fi^h; Whitc- 



Jiah; Bug-fish; Fat-back; Yellow-tail. 



Head and jaws shorter than in B. patronus. Fins comparatively short, 



*A parasitic Crustacean ( Oniscus prccgustator Latrobe) is found in the mouthsof a very 

 largo proportion of the individuals of this species. The specific names l)oth of the fish 

 and the Crustacean refer to this j) culiarity, the ancient Roman rulers (///ranxj) having 

 had their tasters {prceguatatores) to taste their food before them, to prevent poisoning. 



