406 FISHES. ABPOMINALES. 



with a steel blue shade ; from the throat to the anus extends a 

 bone as thin as paper, covered with scales ; three rays on the 

 branchial membrane. American Seas Block, pi. 97, fig- 3. 



Gen. 17. STERNOPTIX, Herm. 



Body compressed, very high vertically, without scales ; abdo- 

 men carinated and bent up before, so that the mouth is di- 

 rected upwards ; no ventral fins, but a festooned membrane 

 on each side of the abdominal ridge under the pectoral fins ; 

 dorsal fins small and in the middle of the back, with a strong 

 spine in front. 



S. diaphana, Herm. Body silvery, semitransparent in the lower 

 part, without lateral line ; pectoral fins yellow ; tail forked. 2 

 inches long. Inhabits South America Cuv. Reg. An. ii. 171. 



FAMILY II. CLUPE^E. 



This family is distinguished by their having no adipose fin ; the upper jaw form- 

 ed in the middle by intermaxillaries without pedicles, and on the sides by the maxil- 

 laries. Their body is scaly ; all have a swimming-bladder ; and the greater part 

 ccecums. The genus Clupea of Linnaeus, which forms the type of this family, are 

 distinguished by their narrow and short intermaxillary bones. The maxillaries, in 

 three pieces, form the sides of the upper jaw in such a manner that these sides are 

 alone protractile. The branchial arches are furnished on the side next the mouth 

 with long pectinated teeth ; and the scales on the lower part of the body, which is 

 compressed vertically, form a serrated ridge. 



Gen. 18. CLUPEA, Cuv. 



Intermaxillary bones narrow, arched before, and divided lon- 

 gitudinally into many pieces ; mouth not entirely furnished 

 with teeth, and often edentate ; belly compressed, carinated, 

 the scales forming a serrature on the ridge ; one dorsal fin, 

 above the ventral ones. 



C. Harengus, Lin. The Common Herring. Body silvery, with dusky 

 back, and deciduous scales ; lower jaw longer than the upper ; a 

 few small teeth in the front of both jaws; 16 to 17 rays on the 

 anal fin. 10 to 12 inches long. Inhabits Northern Seas. B. 

 Shan, v. pi. 119. 



The Herring, which forms an object so important in the fisheries and commerce 

 of Europe, was long supposed, from its appearing and disappearing on the coasts at 

 certain seasons, to have migrated on these occasions, in countless numbers, from the 

 Polar Seas, and, after carrying wealth along the northern shores, retiring again to 

 the arctic deeps. Pennant describes in glowing language the march of these fin- 

 ny columns of fishes, five or six miles in length, and three or four in breadth ; but 

 the assumption of their returning to or coming from the Polar Seas is entirely hypo- 

 thetical. Jt is more in consonance with the habits of other fishes which approach 

 the shore to spawn, to suppose that the herring approaches our coasts for the same 

 purpose, and that they retire when this is effected to the deep sea. 



C. Pilchardus, Bloch. The Pilchard. Body silvery, with dusky 

 back, and large adherent scales ; teeth imperceptible ; dorsal fin 

 a little farther forward on the body than in the preceding species, 

 and anal fin with one or two more rays. 8 inches long. Inha- 

 bits western coasts of England. Shaw, v. pi. 119. 



