THE FISHES OF NEW JERSEY. 107 
sheath. A pointed flap of two scales at axil of pectoral equal to 
about % length of fin. Ventral with a pointed scaly flap a little 
less than half length of fin. Vent well posterior, close in front 
of anal. Dorsal inserted a little nearer base of last anal ray than 
tip of snout, first branched ray longest and last longer than its 
antecedents to third branched ray. Anal inserted behind base of 
dorsal or nearer base of caudal than origin of pectoral, anterior 
rays longest and its margin nearly straight. Caudal deeply 
forked, lobes pointed and lower longer. Pectoral broad, reaching 
beyond ventral. Ventral inserted well before origin of dorsal or 
nearer that of pectoral than that of anal and extending */, of 
space to latter. 
Color in alcohol-dull brown, more or less uniform, a trifle 
darker on back. Fins plain pale brown. Iris pale brassy. Length 
1434 inches. No. 23,030, Academy ef Natural Sciences of Phil- 
adelphia. Female. Type (cotype) of Chatessus insociabilis Ab- 
bott. Sturgeon Pond, situated two miles below Trenton. Dr. 
Charles C. Abbott. Also No. 23,031, Academy of Natural Sci- 
ences of Philadelphia. Male. Cotype with same data. It is a 
trifle smaller, and has the last dorsal ray produced till about equal 
to the head in length. 
These are the only examples I have seen. They may differ, as 
contended by Dr. Abbott, to represent a land-locked race, though 
I have not had the opportunity to compare them with other New 
Jersey examples. According to the original account there is a 
very deep glossy black opercular spot which implys that such is 
not a character of youth as some writers would suppose. In the 
Delaware they are reported formerly abundant, and though oc- 
curring there all winter they do not appear in any numbers til 
after the breaking up of the ice. They always swim in large 
schools, and are not used as food. It is unlawful at present to 
take them for fertilizers. At Duck Island they have been taken 
in great numbers even as late as November. Dr. C. C. Abbott 
thinks they may spawn in Crosswicks Creek, as some fishermen 
have claimed to have seen the young. The vernaculars of this 
fish, such as mud shad, denote the habit of the fish being found 
in the mud during winter, the name gizzard shad has reference 
