252 NEW-YORK FAUNA, 



Length, 1*0 -9-0. 



Fin rays, D. 18 ; P. 16 ; V. 9 ; A. 18 ; C. 22 |. 



This is a rare but well defined species, occurring south of Cape Cod, and will in all pro- 

 bability be found on the coast of New- York. I have taken the description as given by 

 Lesueur. I am inclined to suspect C pusilla of Mitchill, or the Tiny Herring, to be the 

 ■joung of this species. 



THE GREEN HERRING. 



Clcpea virescens. 

 PLATE Xm. FIG. 37. 

 Clupea haler, New-York Herring ? MiTCHILL, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. Vol. 1, p. 451. (Var. ?) 



Characteristics. Bright green on the back. A black spot behind the upper angle of the gill 

 openings. Length six inches. 



Description. Body much compressed ; its greatest depth to its length as one to four. Back 

 arched. Abdomen cultrate, much serrated, with nineteen strong spines anterior to the ven- 

 trals, and twelve between these latter and the vent. Scales large, orbicular, and very deci- 

 duous. Lateral hne straight, indistinct, but may nevertheless be traced. Eyes large, rather 

 more than their diameter apart. Head flattened above, and bounded by two parallel elevated 

 lines. Branchial rays seven. The dorsal fin quadrangular, highest in front, its margin slightly 

 concave ; the first two rays simple, shorter than the third and fourth, which are longest. 

 Pectorals placed low down, long and pointed, and composed of sixteen rays. Ventrals fan- 

 shaped, and placed under the middle of the dorsal fin. Anal long and subequal, its anterior rays 

 longest, its margin slightly excavated. Caudal with long pointed lobes, and deeply forked. 

 Caeca numerous. Air-bladder large, and ending some distance beyond the vent. 



Color. Back green, passing into a lustrous bright green, and forming a longitudinal stripe 

 of the same above the lateral line. Sides silvery. Irides white, varied with brown. Sum- 

 mit of the snout dark brown. A vertical black mark behind the upper part of the branchial 

 aperture. Dorsal and caudal fins light olive-green, bordered on their margins with dark brown. 

 Anal faintly tipped with black on the tips of a few of the first rays ; the remaining rays faint 

 yellowish white. 



Length, 6*0. Greatest depth, 1 • 5. 



Fin rays, D. 16 ; P. 16 ; V. 9 ; A. 17 ; C. 19 |. 



The specimen from which this description is made, was taken in October by a seine, with 

 several others in the Bay of New-York. It is called sometimes Greenback and Fall Herring. 



