12 Mr. C. T. Regan on the British Fishes 
II. Scales all exposed, about 54 in a longitudinal series. 
Head 33 to 4 in length; maxillary nearly or 
quite reaching middle of eye, in adults; 
70 (young) to 110 gill-rakers on lower part 
of anterior arch). psy eis 1 < ste c eeiee 2. sagax. 
Head 32 to 4% in length; maxillary not 
reaching middle of eye; 60 (young) to 75 
gill-rakers on lower part of anterior arch . 3. neopilchardus. 
Authors who have described Sardina pilchardus from 
specimens that had lost their scales, and who have therefore 
counted the scale-pockets, have assigned to it more than 50 
scales in a longitudinal series (e. g., Giinther, Antipa) ; others 
who have examined better-preserved material have counted 
30 scales or less in a longitudinal series, The explanation of 
this is that the scales are unequal in size and the smaller ones 
are hidden by the larger; every oblique row that is visible 
conceals the row behind it, which is formed of smaller scales. 
In some examples the scales in certain areas may be of 
equal size, or nearly so, and in rare cases nearly all the scales 
of one side may be equal and regularly arranged, as in the 
example described and figured by Day (P. Z.S. 1887, p. 129, 
pl. xv.) as a hybrid pilchard and herring. This is a typical 
Sardina pilchardus, except that on one side it is scaled almost 
as in S. sagaw, i. e., nearly all the scales are exposed and 
one can count more has 50 in a longitudinal series ; but a 
few anterior scales on the upper part of the side have the 
S. pilchardus arrangement. 
1. Sardina pilchardus. 
Clupea pilchardus, Walbaum, Artedi Pisce. iii. p. 38 (1792); Giinth. 
Cat. Fish. vii. p. 489 (1868); Day, Fish. Britain, ii. p, 224, pl. exxxix. 
(1884). 
Depth of body 4 to 5 in the length, length of head 3? to 
4}. Snout as long as or longer than diameter of eye, which 
is 34 to 44 in length of head; maxillary extending to below 
anterior } or 4 of eye, sometimes a little beyond ; depth of 
cheek (from eye to anterior end of preoperculum) not greater 
than diameter of eye. 63 (young) to 88 gill-rakers on lower 
part of anterior arch. Scales unequal, the oblique rows 
alternately of larger and smaller scales, the former nearly or 
quite concealing the latter. \Vertebree 52 or 53. Silvery 
or golden ; back greenish or bluish ; a dark humeral spot 
often followed by a series which may be invisible unless 
the scales be removed. 
Atlantic coast of Hurope from Portugal northward to the 
British Isles. 
