108 



the nose to the base of the last ray of the dorsal fin, and 

 from thence half-way along the caudal rays, nearly equal : 

 the commencement of the dorsal fin is therefore anterior 

 to the middle of the fish by the whole length of the base 

 of the fin ; the first and second rays shorter than the third, 

 which is equal to the length of the base of the fin ; these 

 first three rays articulated, but simple ; all the other rays 

 branched : pectoral and ventral fins small, the latter com- 

 mencing in a line under the middle of the dorsal fin ; the 

 axillary scales very long : the anal fin commencing half- 

 way between the origin of the ventral fins and the end of 

 the fleshy portion of the tail ; the first ray short, the 

 second and the last two rays the longest : the tail deeply 

 forked ; the scales at the end of the fleshy portion of the 

 body extending far over the bases of the caudal rays, par- 

 ticularly two elongated scales above and below the middle 

 line. The fin -rays in number are 



D. 18 : P. 16 : V. 8 : A. 18 : C. 19. Vertebra 55. 



The mouth is small, without teeth, the under jaw the 

 longest : the breadth of the eye one-fourth of the length 

 of the head, and placed at rather more than its own breadth 

 from the point of the nose ; the irides yellowish white : 

 the cheeks and all the parts of the gill-covers tinged with 

 golden yellow, and marked with various radiating striae : 

 the posterior edge of the operculum nearly vertical and 

 straight : the upper part of the body bluish green ; the sides 

 and belly silvery white ; the dorsal fin and tail dusky. Mr. 

 Couch says the Pilchard is sometimes found with a row 

 of spots on the side, like the Shad ; which seems the result 

 of disease, these fish being small, soft, and unfit for curing. 



