XVII. HERRING AND PILCHARD 

 FAMILY. CLUPEID^E. 



Representatives in British Fauna. Gen. 3, Sp. 8. 



Gen. 70. CLUPEA. 



71. ALOSA. 



72. ENGRAULIS. 



Although not numerous in species, this family 

 includes a series of fishes of the highest importance 

 in an economical point of view. Regarded in rela- 

 tion to structure, it is readily distinguished from the 

 allied tribes by the want of an adipose dorsal fin, 

 and by the belly being compressed, carinated, and 

 frequently serrated ; as well as by other important 

 characters afterwards to be detailed. The gape of the 

 mouth is not large, and the teeth either very small 

 or entirely wanting. The species therefore are not 

 well adapted to prey on other fishes, but generally 

 find their subsistence in the myriads of minute ani- 

 mals diffused throughout the waters of the ocean, 

 or lurking among the weeds and mud at the bot- 

 tom. 



