92, REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 
Family CLUPEIDA. 
The Herrings. 
Body oblong or elongate, more or less compressed. Head 
usually compressed. Adipose eyelid present or absent. Pre- 
maxillaries not protractile. Mouth rather large, terminal. Jaws 
about equal. Maxillaries forming lateral margins of upper jaw, 
each composed of about 3 pieces. No gular plate. Posterior 
lower part of opercular region often with an angular emargina- 
tion, tips of larger branchiostegals abruptly truncate. Gills 4, 
slit behind fourth. Gill-rakers long and slender. Gull-membranes 
not connected, free from isthmus. Branchiostegals usually few, 
6 to 15. Pseudobranchize present. Body covered with cycloid 
or pectinated scales. Belly sometimes rounded, sometimes com- 
pressed, in which case it is often armed with bony serratures. 
Head naked. No lateral line. Vertebre 40 to 56. Dorsal fin 
median or somewhat posterior, rarely wanting. No adipose fin. 
Ventrals moderate or small. Anal usually rather long. Caudal 
forked. 
A large family inhabiting all seas, usually swimming in im- 
mense schools. Some ascend fresh water and some remain there 
permanently. 
Key to the genera. 
a. DusSUMIERIIN#. Belly rounded, covered with ordinary scales; supple- 
mental maxillary very narrow. ETRUMEUS 
aa. CLUPEIN#%. Belly compressed, armed with bony serre; supplemental 
maxillary broad; A. 15 to 25; dorsal inserted nearly opposite ventral. 
b. Scales with entire and rounded posterior margins. 
c. Last dorsal ray not produced. 
d. Vomer with teeth. CLUPEA 
dd. Vomer toothless. 
e. Premaxillaries meeting at a large angle so that tip of 
upper jaw does not appear notched; cheeks longer than 
deep. POMOLOBUS 
ee. Premaxillaries meeting in front at very acute angle so 
that emarginate tip of upper jaw receives slender tip of 
lower; fore part of cheeks very deep, deeper than long. 
ALOSA 
cc. Last dorsal produced in a long filament. CLUPANODON 
bb. Posterior margins of scales vertical and pectinate or fluted. 
BREVOORTIA 
