CLUPEID^E. — XXX. 71 



the development of membranous sheaths at bases of fins and else- 

 where, (a-aipos, name of some sea-fish.) 



70. MEGALOFS Lacepede. (/xe'ycAov//-, large eye.) 



165. M. atlanticus Cuv. &Val. Tarpum. Tarpon. Grande 

 £caille. Silver-fish. Sabalo. Savanilla. Brilliantly 

 silvery. Mouth large, its cleft oblique, extending beyond the very 

 large eye; lower jaw very prominent; D. inserted behind V. ; dor- 

 sal filament as long as head. Head 4 ; depth 4. D. 12. A. 20. 

 Lat. 1. 42. L. 6 feet. West Indies and Gulf Coast, occasional N". 

 to Cape Cod; remarkable for its enormous scales, sometimes three 

 inches across. 



Family XXX. CLUPEID^]. (The Herrings.) 



Body oblong, covered with cycloid scales; head naked; side of 

 upper jaw formed by maxillaries ; maxillaries composed of 2 or 3 

 pieces ; teeth feeble or wanting ; dorsal moderate ; anal often very 

 long ; caudal forked ; no lateral line ; no gular plate ; branehios- 

 tegals 6 to 15 ; the tips of the larger ones abruptly truncate ; pseu- 

 dobranclmc present; gill rakers long and slender; gill openings 

 wide. 



Genera about 17; species 120; found in most seas, many spe- 

 cies entering fresh water to spawn, a few remaining permanently. 

 Many are highly valued as food fishes. It is probable that the 

 ClupeidcB are more numerous in individuals than any other family 

 of fishes. 



a. Maxillary large, of about three pieces ; mouth terminal, the jaw scarcely 

 shorter; carnivorous fishes, with simple not muscular stomach. 

 b. Belly rounded, with ordinary scales; the body subterete, supplemental 

 bones of maxillary very narrow. (Dussumieriina.) 



c. V. small, behind D. ; teeth small, persistent. . . . Etkumeus, 71. 

 bb. Belly compressed to an edge and more or less serrated ; body coin- 

 pressed ; bones of maxillary broad. (Clupeince.) 



d. Scales with their posterior edges entire and rounded. 



e. Last ray of D. not produced ; scales loosely attached ; vertebra: 47 



to 5G Cliika, 72. 



ee. Last ray of I), produced in a long filament; scales rather firm; 



vertebrae 43 Ofisthonema, 73. 



dd. Scales with their posterior margins vertical, and pectinate or fluted; 



head very large ; D. small, posterior Bkevoortta, 74. 



aa. Maxillary short and narrow, with a single supplemental bone ; mouth 

 small, inferior, the lower jaw much shorter: mud-eating fishes, with the 

 stomach muscular, like the gizzard of a fowl. (Dm'vsomince.) 

 f. Last ray of D. produced in a long filament Douosoma, 75. 



71. ETRTJMEUS Bleeker. (From the Japanese name.) 



1GG. E. sadina (Mitchill). Bound Herring. Mouth small, 

 reaching front of orbit; eye large; fins all very small. Bluish, 



