FISHES CLUPEIDAE CLUPEA MIRABILIS. 329 



The herrings are anything but numerous along the Pacific coast, as far at least as the 

 observations go. The anchovies from all appearances reach an unparalleled size, and if at all 

 numerous, could be made a source of trade and wealth. As to the shads, they have not yet 

 been observed, whether in the San Joaquin, Sacramento, or Columbia rivers. 



CLUPEA, Artedi. 



Gkn. Char.— Body elongated, back rounded, flanks thickish, and belly more or less compressed, or sharp according to tbe 

 amount of spawn the specimens may contain. Premaxillar bones provided with small teeth; maxillaries finely crenated, else 

 serrated, rather more perceptible to the touch than the unaided eye. Small teeth at the periphery of the lower jaw, which 

 projects beyond the upper. Stouter and more conspicuous teeth exist upon the vomer, disposed upon a longitudinal band. A 

 similar band, opposed to the former, may be seen on the tongue. There are but a few small teeth upon the external margin 

 of the palatines, but drop so easily off that, without attentive and repeated observations, one might be led to suppose that these 

 bones are smooth and toothless like the pterygoidians. Dorsal fin small, situated about on the middle of the length of the 

 body. The anal is quite low. The ventrals are inserted under the dorsal. The pectorals are rather email. 



Sts.—Clupea, Artedi, Gen. Pisc.ed. Walhmmi. 1792, 37;&,Synon. Pise. 1793, U.— Cuv. Regn. Anim. II, 1817, 173; 2ded. 

 II, 1829 ; &, ed. illustr. Poiss. 272.— Stoeer, Kep. Fish. Mass. 1839, 1 10 ; &, Synops. 184G, 2114.— DeKay, 

 New Y. Faun. IV, 1842, 250.— Cuv. &. Val. Hist. nat. Poiss. XX, 1847, 28. 



The intestine recurs but twice upon itself. The stomach has the shape of a conical bag. The 

 swimming or air bladder is large, acute at both extremities. Some of these traits of structure 

 are met with to a greater or lesser extent in the other genera of this family. 



CLUPEA MIRABILIS, G r d . 



Spec. Char. — Body rather short, deepest upon its middle, and tapering towards either extremity. Head constituting the fifth 

 of the length. Posterior extremity of the maxillar bone extending to a vertical line drawn through the pupil. Eye large and 

 sub-circular; its diameter entering about four times in the length of the side of the head. Anterior margin of dorsal fin nearer 

 the insertion of the caudal than the apex of the upper jaw. Base of anal fin comprised about eleven times in the total length; 

 its anterior margin being nearer the insertion of the caudal than the origin of the ventrals. Origin of ventrals placed somewhat 

 behind the anterior margin of the dorsal, and a little nearer the apex of the lower jaw than the tip of the lower lobe of the 

 caudal. Dorsal region bluish purple; flanks and belly metallic whitish or yellowish. 



Syn. — Clupea mirabilis, Gru. in Proo. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. VII, 1854, IS?, & 154. 



This species is closely allied to the common herring {Clupea harengus) hy its general appear- 

 ance; the absence of teeth upon the palatines, the conspicuousness of the vomerine teeth 

 (which are most so of all), and the presence of but two rows of them upon the tongue^ will 

 enable any one to draw the distinction between the two species. 



The specimens before us are from eight to nine inches in total length, the head forming 

 about the fifth of that dimension. The greatest depth, which corresponds to the anterior 

 margin of the dorsal, is equal to the length of the head. The lower jaw is longer than the 

 upper, the posterior extremity of the maxillar bone reachiug a vertical line which. would pass 

 through the middle of the pupil. The eye is sub-circular and large ; its diameter being 

 contained somewhat less than four times in the length of the side of the head. The anterior 

 rays of the dorsal fin are almost as high as the fin is long, and somewhat nearer the insertion of 

 the caudal than the extremity of the upper jaw ; its upper margin is slightly concave, or else 

 depressed. The anal fin is very low, somewhat deeper anteriorly than farther back ; its origin 

 is situated nearer the insertion of the caudal fin than the base of the ventrals ; its own base 

 enters about eleven times in the total length. The insertion of the ventrals takes place some- 

 what posteriorly to the anterior margin of the dorsal, a little nearer the apex of the lower jaw 

 42 a 



