THE HERRING TRIBE 



2863 



The common herring (Clupea harengus} belongs to a group of 

 1 roup genera characterized by the equality in the length of the two jaws, 

 the presence of free fatty lids to the eyes, and the serration of the lower border of 

 the hinder part of the body; the typical herrings being distinguished from the allied 

 genera by the anal fin being of moderate length, with less than thirty rays, and the 

 serration of the under surface commencing from the chest or point of origin of the 

 pectoral fins. Usually the scales are of moderate or large size, although they may 

 be small; the cleft of the mouth is of medium width; and if teeth are present at all, 

 they are rudimental and deciduous. In position the dorsal fin is opposite the anal, 



SHAD, SPRATS, AND HERRING. 



(The shad one-fifth, the others one-third natural size.) 



and the caudal is deeply forked. Represented by some sixty species, the genus has 

 a distribution coextensive with that of the family; but whereas the flesh of the 

 majority of its representatives is of excellent quality, that of some tropical forms 

 may acquire poisonous properties. In the case of such a well-known fish as the 

 common herring it will be superfluous to give any description; but it may be men- 

 tioned that this species may be distinguished from its allies by the presence of a 

 patch of small ovate teeth on the vomer. It has also the dorsal fin situated exactly 

 midway between the extremity of the muzzle, and the longest ray of the caudal fin, 

 and the pelvic fins are directly under the dorsal. Whitebait are for the most part 

 the young of this species. Common to both sides of the cooler regions of the 



