THE PILCHARD. 133 



winter in the estuary of the Thames, and the 

 sprat-fishers often take considerable numbers. 

 In some parts of the coast these young fishes 

 are termed herring-sile, and yawlings. 



Besides the common herring, a distinct species 

 visits our coast in autumn. It is termed 

 Leach's herring, (Clupea Leachii, Yarrell,) and 

 was first discriminated by Mr. Yarrell, who 

 gave a detailed account of it in the Zoological 

 Journal, vol. v. This species is caught often 

 in considerable numbers in the estuary of the 

 Thames during the winter ; it is smaller than 

 the common herring, not exceeding seven inches 

 and a half in length, and superior in flavour ; 

 in proportion to its length, it is much deeper 

 than the common herring, and differs, more- 

 over, in the number of the fin-rays and of the 

 vertebras. It is taken in Cardigan bay, and 

 various bays and lochs in Scotland. The 

 breeding season of this species commences in 

 the middle of February. 



On our southern coast, and especially that of 

 Devonshire and Cornwall, the pilchard (Clupea 

 pilchardus) is -taken at certain seasons of the 

 year in great abundance. This fish does not 

 travel so far northwards as the herring, but 

 contents itself within temperate latitudes, never 

 being found in the northern ocean. It is com- 



