710 



ICHTHYOLOGY. 



tion of 

 Fishes. 



Pilehard. 



south. The migrations of this fish have long attracted 

 the attention of naturalists; lengthened descriptions 

 , have been given of their marvellous journies from 

 the arctic regions, of the course which they pursue, 

 and the obstructions which they meet with. But 

 these descriptions have been given from a very im- 

 perfect acquaintance with the habits of the animal It 

 is now clearly established, that the herrings, like all 

 the other fishes that reside in deep water, approach the 

 neighbouring shore at the season when they are ready 

 to spawn, and return to their favourite haunts when the 

 process of reproduction is finished The food of the 

 herring consists of the smaller crustacea of young fishes, 

 even those of their own species. At the season when they 

 are ready to spawn, their stomachs are found empty. 

 This fish is salted as an article of trade, the process (it is 

 said) being first tried by William Beukelen of Biervlet 

 near Sluys. The smoking of herrings, according to La 

 Cepede, was first practised by the inhabitants of Dieppe. 

 In some of the northern countries, when the herrings 

 are in abundance, they boil them in large cauldrons, 

 and obtain oil for their lamps ; the refuse they employ 

 as manure to the ground. The sprat, C. sprattus, dif- 

 fers from the herring in having nine rays in each ven- 

 tral fin, while the herring has only six ; and according 

 to Mr Neill, " if a straight line be dropped from the 

 fore part of the dorsal fin perpendicularly downwards, 

 it will, in the true herring, fall a little in front of the 

 ventral fins, but in the garvie (sprat) it will fall a lit- 

 tle behind the same fins." This species is found in 

 the northern countries, and also in the Mediterranean. 

 It is used for all the purposes to which the herring is 

 applied, and is prepared after the same manner. The 

 C. alosa or shad, termed also from its size, mother of 

 herrings, migrates from the sea into the fresh water ri- 

 vers, like the salmon. The fry are called white bait. 

 The flesh has rather a disagreeable taste. The C. en- 

 crassicolus, or anchovy, is another species of this genus 

 held in high estimation. It inhabits the sea, and, like 

 the herring, it approaches the shores for the purpose of 

 spawning. The Romans expressed a pickle from this 

 fish, which they termed a garum. The moderns pickle 

 them, and as the bones dissolve entirely in boiling, the 

 sauce is of equal value. The remaining species are 

 chiefly the inhabitants of the seas of warmer countries. 

 They are esculent, and possess in a greater or less de- 

 gree the peculiar flavour of the herring. 



GENUS CCXI. MYSTUS. 



More than three rays in the gill flap ; belly carinated ; 

 anal fin very long, and united with the caudal fin. One 

 dorsal fin. 



The Clupea mystus of Osbeck is the only known 

 species. It is a native of the Indian seas. In its ge- 

 neral form it resembles the blade of a sword, the body 

 and tail being greatly compressed. Upper jaw longer 

 than the under, and furnished on each side with a flat 

 narrow denticulated bone, which reaches to the ventral 

 fins. 



GENUS CCXII. CLUPANODON. Pilchard. 



More than three rays in the gill flap ; belly carina- 

 ted ; anal and caudal fins separate ; one dorsal fin ; jaws 

 without teeth. 



The absence of teeth in the jaws of the Pilchard, is 

 the mark by which, as a genus, it is distinguished from 

 Clupea. Six species are known. The C. pilchardus, 

 or common pilchard, is the most important species of 

 the genus. It is found in great abundance on the 

 shores of Cornwall. The flesh is considered excellent, 

 and is eaten either fresh or salted. It contains a great 

 deal of oil, which is extracted from it in considerable 



quantities by the Cornish fishermen. The C. thrissa 

 is a native of the Indian and American seas, and as- 

 cends the fresh water rivers to spawn. The flesh is 

 considered as fat and agreeable, but in certain circum- 

 stances it has been found to be hurtful. The C. sinen- 

 sis frequents the shores and rivers of Asia and Ameri- 

 ca, where it is taken in <uch quantities that the inha 

 bitants manure their fields of rice with them. 



GENUS CCXIII. GASTEROPELECUS. 



Head, body, and tail, compressed ; belly carinated 

 and semicircular; two dorsal fins; ventral fins very 

 small. 



This genus was instituted by Gronovius, and after, 

 wards adopted by Bloch, for the reception of the Clu- 

 pea simia of Linnaeus. It has been inserted by Gme- 

 lin and some others in the genus Salmo. The two 

 dorsal fins separate it from the herring, while the cir- 

 cumstance of the second dorsal fin being radiated, in- 

 dicate its want of connection with the salmon. It is a 

 native of the equatorial seas, and is said to swim very 

 ill, on account of the peculiar shape of its body, which 

 renders it difficult to maintain its vertical position. 



GENUS CCXIV. MENE. 



Head, body, and tail, compressed ; belly carinated 

 and semicircular ; back elevated ; one low, lengthened 

 dorsal fin ; ventral fins narrow and produced. 



The only species which has been taken notice of, 

 rests on the authority of a Chinese drawing in the 

 Dutch collection, and is termed by La Cepede, M. 

 Anna-carolina, in honour of his wife Anne Caroline 

 Hubert Jube La Cepede. 



The generic name is indicative of its moon-shaped 

 form. 



GENUS CCXV. DOHSUARIUS. 



The anterior part of the back furnished with a com- 

 pressed hunch, terminated above by a thin edge ; one 

 dorsal fin. 



This genus contains at present only one species, 

 termed D. nigricans. It is described by La Cepede 

 from the manuscripts of Commerson. It was found 

 near fort Dauphin, in Madagascar. 



GENUS CCXVI. XYSTER. 



Head, body, and tail, compressed ; belly carrinated 

 and semicircular ; back elevated ; gill flap of seven rays ; 

 a depression below each ventral fin. 



Xyster fusctis, the only species which has been de- 

 scribed, was observed by Commerson. It is of a uni- 

 form brown colour. The two jaws are rounded, and 

 nearly of equal length ; the caudal, dorsal, and anal 

 fins, have small scales at the base ; the tongue is short, 

 large, and semicartilaginous. The nostrils have two 

 openings each. 



GEKUS CCXVII. CVPRINODON. 



Head, body, and tail, of an ovate form; three rays in 

 the gill flap ; jaws with teeth. 



The C. variegatus is from Carolina, and was first ob- 

 served by Bosc. The opening of the mouth is very 

 small ; the under jaw is longest ; the teeth are short ; 

 the gill lids rounded ; the lateral line indistinct ; iris of 

 a golden colour. It scarcely reaches the length of four 

 inches. 



GENUS CCXVIII. CYPRINUS CARF. 



Gill flap with four rays or more ; jaws without teeth ; 

 one dorsal fin. 



This very extensive genus, containing seventy spe- 

 cies, has been subdivided into sections, from the pre- 

 sence or absence of the beard, and the form of the tail. 

 These sections, we may add, are distinguished by cha- 

 racters more obvious and important than many of those 



