IN ILLUSTKATION OF ITS NATURAL HISTORY. 45 



single ventricle. From the ventricle proceeds an artery 

 extending to and connected by minute branches with the 

 gills. 



(Esophagus. — The oesophagus or gullet is remarkably 

 short in proportion to the size of the fish. 



Stomach. — The stomach is thin and membranous, and 

 capable of great distension ; the gut is nearly of uniform 

 size throughout its length. 



Gall-hladder. — The gall-bladder is small, the bag of a 

 dark-green, and the liquid of a light claret colour, having 

 a sweetish and somewhat pungent taste. 



Air-bag. — The vesica natatoria, or air-bag, is round, of 

 a silvery-white colour, nearly the length of the stomach, 

 and pointed and narrow at both ends ; it is connected 

 with the posterior part of the stomach (which pos- 

 terior part is shaped like a funnel) by a duct which lies 

 in the female between the roes, and in the male between 

 the milts. 



Size. — The full-grown herring visiting the British 

 coasts varies from eight to twelve inches in length ; 

 those caught to the north of Shetland are in some in- 

 stances larger ; and the winter herrings fished on the 

 coast of Norway in January and February are some- 

 times from thirteen to fifteen inches in length. The 

 following are the sizes of the herring from difi'erent 

 localities : — 



