658 FISHES. 



Central America (one species ranges to New York), Australia, 

 the East Indies, and Japan. 



Clupea. — Body compressed, Avith the abdomen serrated, the 

 serrature extending forwards to the thorax. Scales of moderate 

 or large, rarely of small size. Upper jaw not projecting beyond 

 the lower. Cleft of the mouth of moderate width. Teeth, if 

 present, rudimentary and deciduous. Anal fin of moderate 

 extent, with less than thirty rays ; dorsal fin opposite to the 

 ventrals. Caudal forked. 



This genus comprises more than sixty different species, 

 the geographical distribution of which coincides with that of 

 the family. The majority are of greater or less utility to man, 

 but a few tropical species {C. thrissa, C. venenosa, and others) 

 acquire, probably from their food, highly poisonous properties, 

 so as to endanger the life of persons eating them. The most 

 noteworthy species are — 



1. C. harengus (the " Herring"). — It is readily recognised by 



having an ovate patch of very small teeth on the vomer. D. 



17-20. A. 16-18. L.lat. 53-59. Vert. 56. GiU-cover smooth, 



without radiating ridges. It inhabits, in incredible numbers, 



the German Ocean, the nortliern parts of the Atlantic, and the 



seas north of Asia. The Herring of the Atlantic coasts of 



North America is identical with that of Europe. A second 



species has been supposed to exist on the British coast (C. 



leacliii), but it comprises only individuals of a smaller size, 



the produce of an early or late spawn. Also the so-called 



" Whitebait " is not a distinct species, but consists chiefly of 



the fry or the young of herrings, and is obtained "in perfection" 



at localities where these small fishes find an abundance of 



food, as in the estuary of the Thames. 



[Separate accounts on the Herring may he found in Cuvier and Valen- 

 ciennes, "Hist. nat. des Poi.ssons," vol. xx. ; J. M. Mitchell, "The 

 Herring, its Natural History and National Importance," Edinb. 

 1864, 8vo ; P. Neucrantz, " De Harengo," Liibeck, 1654 ; J. S. 

 Dodd, " Essay towards a Natural History of the Herring," Lond. 

 1768, 8vo ; Bock, " Versuch einer vollstisendigen Natur-und Handels- 

 Geschichte des Hterings, " Koiiigsberg, 1769, Svo.J 



