Catalogue of the Manvnah, Birds, Reptiles, etc. 39 



Family Clupeidai. 



(The Herrings.) 



Brevoortia tyrannus, Goode. Menhaden ; Mossbunker ; Bug- 

 fish ; Fat Back. 2175. 



Very variable in all its characters. The annual yield of oil 

 from this fish exceeds that of the whale. "A parasitic crustacean 

 {Ofiiscus p/'cxgHstator, Lat.) is found in the mouths of a very large 

 proportion of the individuals of this species. The specific names 

 of both the fish and the crustacean refer to this pecularity, the 

 ancient Roman Rulers {tyranni) having had their tasters [pfcegusta- 

 tores) to taste their food before them, to prevent poisoning. 



Clupea harengus, Linn. 77/^- Herring. 2177. 



Found in incredible numbers in the German Ocean, North 

 Atlantic and seas north of Asia. The so-called "White Bart" con- 

 sists chiefly of the fry or young of herrings. 



Clupea sagax, Jewyns. California Sardine. 2176. 



Spread all over the temperate and tropical zones ; found in 

 large shoals on the coast of California, Chili, New Zealand and 

 Japan. 



Clupea sapidissima, Wilson. Common Shad. 2178. 



Highly esteemed in the East as a food fish, but inferior in 

 taste to all who have been accustomed to eat white fish in the 

 West. 



Family l')orosomatida;. 



Dorosoma cepedianum. Gill. Gizzard Shad ; Hickory Shad. 

 2179. 



A handsome fish, but almost worthless as food. Flesh soft, 

 insipid and full of bones. (Mr. Klippart states that "40 years ago 

 it was esteemed an excellent fish on the Cincinnati market," which 

 if true, shows that either the Cincinnatians do not now buy fish for 

 their good looks, or else in 40 years they have progressed a 

 long way toward epicurianism.) — (Jordan.) 



Family Engraulididffi. 

 (The Anchovies.) 



Stolephorus compressus, J. and G. Sprat. 2182. 

 Stolephorus delicatissimus, J. and G. Sprat. 2180. 

 Stolephorus ringens, J. and G. Anchovy. 2t8i. 



Family ScopelidcC. 



(The Scopelids ) 



Synodus lucisceps, Gill. Dingaree dock. 2183. 



