ZOOLOGY. 365 



The Missouri herring was obtained in Nebraska, west of Fort Union. Others apparently- 

 similar were taken from the small tributary streams of the Eed River of the North. They 

 bite freeh' at a hook baited with meat, &c., but when captured are of but little use, as they 

 are too bony to be of much value as food. 



ENGRAULIS MORDAX, Grd. 



Pacific Ancliovy. 



Sp. Ch. — Body slender, elongated, and sub-fusiform in profile. Head constituting the fourth of the total length ; snout 

 sub-conical. Posterior extremity of maxillar bone extending to the sub-opercle. Eye large and sub-circular ; its diameter 

 entering four times and a half in the length cf the side of the head. Anterior margin of dorsal fin nearer the insertion 

 of the caudal than the tip of the snout. Base of anal fin entering a little over seven times in the total length. Vent 

 situated opposite the base of last ray of dorsal. Ventral fins small, their tips not reaching the vent. Pectorals rather short, 

 posteriorly truncated. Deep bluish brown above ; silvery beneath. 



Syn — Engravlis mordax, Grd in Proc. Ac\d. Nat. So. Philad. VII, 1854, 138 & 154. — Ibid. Gen. Rep. Fishes, p. 333. 



This fish, almost exactly like the famed "anchovy" of Europe in appearance, is also excel- 

 lent for the table when fresh. It abounds in Shoalwater bay at the same time as the preceding, 

 and may be found in great numbers on the flats, at low tide, where basketfuls may be had for 

 the trouble of picking them up. Like the herring, when fresh its back is dark olive and belly 

 silvery white. All of both these fish have disappeared from the bay by September. — C. 



This anchovy is probably the fish referred to by Mr. Gibbs as that known to the Skadgett 

 Indians as the Wash-oos. — (See remarks under head o^ Meletta cosrulea.) 



SYNGNATHUS ARUNDINACEUS, Grd. 



Pacific Pipe-fish. 



Sp. Cn. — Head contained seven times in the total length, twice in that of the body. Anterior rim of the orbit equidistant 

 between the apex of the snout and the insertion of the pectoral fins. Longitudinal diameter of the orbit entering eiglit 

 times and a half in the length of the side of tlie head. Anterior margin of dorsal fin situated in advance of the anal 

 aperture ; its base, in the male sex. entering twice and a quarter of a time on the distance between the concavity of the 

 thoracic belt and the anterior edge of the vent. Blackish brown, maculated beneath with golden yellow. 



Syn. — Si/ngnathus aruniinaceus, Grd. Gen. Rep. Fishes, 346. 



A single specimen of this fish was presented to me by a ship captain, who had obtained 

 it from some part of the California coast. No other facts were ascertained regarding its 

 history. 



AMIA OCELLICAUDA, Richards. 



Mar8b-fisll ; Dog-figll. 



Sp Cii — An oblong black spot, with a lighter margin, obliquely situated at the base of the upper lobe of the caudal fin 

 and inclined forwards. Head contained four times and a half in the total length. Insertion of ventnils nearer the base 

 of the caudal than the extremity of tlie snout. Anterior margin of anal fin nearer the base of the pectorals than the 

 posterior margin of the caudal. 



SYK.—Amia ocdlkauda, Ricu.\eds. Faun. Bor. Amer. Ill, 1836, 236. — Guv. & Val, Hist. Nat. Poiss. XIX, 1846, 422.— Grd. 

 Gen. Rep. Fishes, 349. 



The fresh water dog-fish is very common in the lakes near Fort Snelling, Minn. They attain 

 a length of about 20 inches, and, being proportionally stout, will probably weigh three or four 

 pounds. They readily bite at a hook covered with ordinary bait, and when hooked endeavor 

 to escape by feats of strength and skill equal to those of fish of much higher repute. 



Its flesh is soft and pulpy, and is popidarly believed to be poisonous. 



