109 



SPRAT. 



Aphya flialerica, Rondeletius. 



Clnpea spratfus, Arteui. Linnaeus. 



" Yarrell; Br. Fishes, vol. ii, p. 197. 



" " JejSYns; Manual, p. 435. 



WiLLOUGHBY was SO far misled concerning tliis fish as to 

 regard it as the early condition of the Herring and Pilchard; 

 but although Artedi definitely distinguished it froni both these 

 fishes, in this he was only so far followed by his friend 

 Linnceus, that he makes the Herring to be a separate fish 

 from the Sprat, without noticing the Pilchard as distinct from 

 both. But after such evidence, with the opportunities of 

 inquiry within his reach, it appears remarkable that Dr. 

 Fleming continues the error of Willoughby, by still supposing 

 the Sprat to be no other than the young of the above-named 

 fishes. How little the true Sprat is known in the Mediterranean 

 appears from Pisso, who supposes it to be the same with the 

 Sardine, which fish more closely resembles the Pilchard, although 

 probably also distinct from it. 



The Sprat is known in the German Ocean and the Baltic, 

 and from thence round the British Islands, as along the coasts 

 of France, as also in the west portion of the Mediterranean, 

 as I learn from a private communication of Dr. Gulia, of 

 JNIalta; and wherever it occurs it is a social fish like others 

 of this genus. Dr. Parnell remarks that "they are found 

 in the Firth of Forth through the whole year, and like 

 many small animals appear very susceptible of cold. During 

 the warm summer months they are seen s2:)orting about in 

 large shoals in every part of the Forth." But although at 

 times abundant in the west of England, it is found there less 

 frequently than on the more eastward coast of the kingdom. 

 It also disapjDears there more completely than the before-named 



