ALLICE SHAD. 187 



of Pennant) is seldom less than four pounds ; they continue 

 in the river about two months, and are succeeded by a variety 

 called the Twaite, which is less than the Shad, never weigh- 

 ing more than two pounds, and is but little esteemed. Dr. 

 Fleming says, that the celebrated Whitebait of the Thames, 

 which appears near Blackwall and Greenwich during the 

 month of July, is the fry of this fish ; but as, although the 

 Shad are plentiful in the Severn, we hear nothing of the 

 Whitebait,* further investigation seems to be required on 

 this point." 



In the Thames, the Allice Shad is of rare occurrence. 

 A specimen was brought to me in 1831, that had been 

 caught above Putney Bridge ; and another was taken in 

 1833, which is noticed by Mr. Jesse in the third series of 

 his Gleanings in Natural History, page 147. " This fish 

 was taken June 25th, opposite Hampton Court Palace ; and 

 its appearance so high up the river is very unusual. On 

 taking it out of the well of the boat, it was full of spawn, 

 and died immediately.'" I have had opportunities of ex- 

 amining very fine specimens from the Severn, sent to me by 

 T. B. L. Baker, Esq. of Hardwick Court. 



The flesh of this species is said to be of good flavour, 

 and the quality is considered to improve the higher the fish 

 ascends the river. ^Elian says the Shads appear to take 

 pleasure in the sounds of musical instruments ; but if it 

 happens to thunder when they are ascending rivers, they 

 return rapidly to the sea. 



Both species of Shads have great resemblance, except in 

 size, to Herrings, and have been frequently called the mother 

 of Herrings. The large Herrings of two feet in length, so 

 called by Anderson and others, and said to occur in the 



* This, it may be remembered, was adduced as one of the proofs that the 

 Whitebait were not the young of the Shad. 



VOL. II. L 



