FISHES OF NEW YORK 211 



In the Woods Hole region of Cape Cod it is very rare, accord- 

 ing to Dr Smitli. A number were taken in the fall of 1871. 

 In 1885 it was common in Buzzards bay and Vineyard sound in 

 July. It remained about a month, and specimens were taken 

 in traps at almost every lift. During the next four years the 

 fish was also noticed, but none has been seen since 1890. 



Genus brevoortia Gill 



Body elliptic, compressed, deepest anteriorly, tapering be- 

 hind; head very large; cheeks deeper than long; mouth large, 

 the lower jaw included; no teeth; gill rakers very long and 

 slender, . densely set, appearing to fill the mouth when it is 

 opened; gill arches angularly bent. Scales deeper than long, 

 closely imbricated, their exposed edges vertical and fiuted or 

 pectinated. Dorsal fin low, rather posterior; anal fin small. 

 Intestinal canal elongate. Vertebrae 48. Peritoneum dusky. 

 Species few; inhabiting the Atlantic; spawning probably in 

 brackish water in the spring. Coarse, herbivorous fishes, not 

 valued as food, but the young of the greatest value as food to 

 other fishes. (After Jordan and Evermann) 



118 Brevoortia tyrannus (Latrobe) 

 Menliaden; Mosshunher 



Clnpea tyrannus Dateobe, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. Phila. V, 77, pi. 1, 1802, 



(Chesapeake bay) 

 Clupea metihaden Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 453, pi. V, 

 fig. 7, 1815, New York; Gunthee, Oat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 436, 1868. 

 Alosa menhaden De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 259, pi. 21, fig. 60, 1842; 



Stoeee, Hist. Fish. Mass. 158, pi. XXVI, fig. 4, 1867. 



Brevoortia tyrannus Goode, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. I, 531, 1878; Fish & 



Fish. Ind. U. S. I, 569, pi. 205, 18S4; Joedan & Gilbeet, Bull. 16, U. S. 



Nat. Mus. 269, 1883; Bean, 19th Rep. Comm. Fish. N. Y. separate, 44, 



pi. XXV, fig. 35, 1890; Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 336, 1897; 52d 



Ann. Rep. N. Y. State Mus. 96, 1900; Joedan & Eveemann, Bull. 47, 



U. S. Nat. Mus. 433, 1896, pi. LXXIII, fig. 195, 1900; Smith, Bull. U. S. 



F. C. XVII, 91, 1898. 



The menhaden has the exposed surfaces of its scales very 



narrow and deep. The body is similar in shape to that of the 



shad, the depth being one third of the length without caudal, 



and somewhat greater than the length of the head. Mouth 



large; jaws toothless. The maxilla extends to below the hind 



