FISHES— CLUPEIDAE — ENGRAULIS. 



333 



We have carefully counted the rays of the fins of the specimens enumerated in the following 

 Ji.sl and ibund them to be : 



No. 962, ? . D 3, 9 + 1 ; A 4, 31 + 1 ; 4, 1, 8, 8, 1, 5 ; V 1, 7 ; PH. 

 No. 962, S . U 3, 10 + 1 ; A 4, 31 + 1 ; C 4, 1, 8, 8, 1, 5 ; V 1, 7 ; PH. 

 No. 963, <? . D 2, 10 4- 1 ; A 4, 32 + 1 ; C 4, 1, 8, 8, 1, 5 ; V 1, 7 ; P 12. 

 No. 965, ? . D 2, 9 + 1 ; A 2, 29 + 1 ; C 4, 1, 8, 8, 1, 5 ; V 1, 7 ; PH. 

 A female specimen from the northern fork of the Canadian river, collected by Dr. S. W. 

 Woodhouse, under Capt. L. Sitgreaves, and numbered 961 in the Smithsonian catalogues, has: 

 D 2, 9 + 1 ; A 3, 28 + 1 ; C 4, 1, 8, 8, 1, 5 ; V 1, 7 ; P 12. 

 These are all the specimens which we have had an opportunity of examining. The one figured 

 on the accompanying plate was procured at St. Louis, Mo., and exhibits eighteen longitudinal 

 series of scales between the anterior edge of the dorsal fin and the sharp ridge of the abdomen : 

 eleven below the lateral line and six above it ; an odd series occupying the dorsal region from 

 the occijjut to the dorsal fin. Moreover, the scales constitute transverse oblique series ; the 

 scales themselves being deeper than long, anteriorly uneven, with radiating furrows upon 

 their anterior section only. 



The color is yellowish or whitish, with metallic reflects, somewhat lighter beneath than 

 above ; the fins being unicolor of a tint similar to that of the region of the body where they 

 are inserted. 



References to the figures. — Plate LXXV, fig. 1, represents Hijodon tergisus, somewhat reduced 

 in size. Fig. 2 is a dorsal scale. Fig. 3, a scale from the lateral line. Fig. 4, a scale from 

 the abdominal region. 



List of specimens. 



ENGRAULIS, Cuv. 



Gen. Char. — Body rounded or compressed. Mouth large ; snout protruding beyond the lower jaw. Premaxillaries very 

 small, and hidden under tlie snout. Maxillaries slender, stretching over the cheeks. Small or minute teeth on either jaw, 

 extending to the very extremity of the maxillary. A few teeth on the front of vomer. Palatine and pterygoidian teeth 

 sometimes reduced to mere asperities. Gill openings very large and continuous under the throat. Branchiostegal membrane 

 narrow and hidden under the jaw ; its rays being short and variable in number. Caudal fin furcated. Venlrals very small, 

 inserted in advance of the dorsal fin. 



SYH.—EngrauUs, Gov. Regn. Anira. II, 1817, 174; 2d ed. II, 1829 ; &, ed. illustr. Poiss. 273.— Gov. & Val. Hist. nat. 

 Poiss. XXI, 1848, 2.— Grd. in Gilliss, U. S. N. Astr. Exped. South. Hemisph. II, 1855, 247. 



The peculiar structure of the snout, as well as that of the mouth, will strike every one as 

 the most characteristic feature of the small Clupeoids which constitutes this genus. The head, 

 which is very elongated in some species, is short in others. 



