70 



CLUPEA. 



CuviER assigns to a separate genus the species of this family which 

 have the maxillary bones or mystache arched above, and capable of 

 being divided lengthwise into separate pieces, and by the aid of 

 which the gape can bo considerably modified. From the kindred 

 genus Alosa it is distinguished by the absence of a decided cleft in 

 front of the upper jaw, which is caused by a separation of the 

 intermaxillary bones. Prom the genus Encrasicholus it is separated 

 by the projecting snout and long cleft of the mouth of the latter. ' 



PILCHARD. 



Harengits minor, she Pilcltardus, Willotjghby; p. 223, pi. P. 1. 

 Clupea pikhardus, Cuviee. Donovan ; jjl. 69. 



" " Fleming; Br. Animals, p. 182. 



" '* Jenyns; Manual, p. 436. 



■' " Yaerell; Br. Fishes, vol. ii, p. 169. 



" " Tuhton's Linnteus. The Swedish 



naturalist coufoimded. this fish 

 with the Sprat. 



The Pilchard is one of the commonest fishes in the Avestcrn 

 districts of England and the south of Irehand, and, as regards 

 numbers, the most abundant in its season; but its range is 

 not extensive, and it is only as a rare wanderer that it is 

 known eastward beyond Devonshire, or on the north beyond 

 the Bristol Channel. But we read of the taking of a consid- 

 erable school in the year 1*^22, so far up the River Dart as 

 Totness Bridge, whither they had been driven by a herd 

 of Porpoises; and Dale, who wrote a history of Harwich, 

 reports their having been caught on the coast of Essex. Dr. 

 Parnell is also a witness to the occurrence of this fish in the 

 Firth of Forth, and its Scottish name of Garvie Herring is 

 proof of at least its casual occurrence in other parts of that 

 kinsrdom. 



