116 CLUPEID^. 



the origin of the ventral fin and the end of the fleshy portion 

 of the tail; the rays very short. The tail considerably forked; 

 the outer rays as long again as those of the middle. The 

 fin-rays in number are — 



D. 17 : P. 15 : V. 9 : A. 14 : C. 20 : Vertebrae 56 ; 

 varying in some specimens to 



D. 19 : P. 17 : V. 9 : A. 16 : C 18. 



The lower jaw is by much the longer, with five or six 

 small teeth extending in a line backwards on each side from 

 the anterior point ; four rows of small teeth on the central 

 upper surface of the tongue ; a few small teeth on the central 

 portion of the upper jaw, and the inferior edges below the 

 gape finely serrated : the eye large ; its diameter compared to 

 the length of the head as two to seven, and placed at the 

 distance of its own breadth from the end of the nose : the 

 dorsal and abdominal lines of the body slightly convex ; the 

 belly carinated, but not serrated ; the scales moderate in size, 

 oval, and thin. The upper part of the fish a fine blue, with 

 green and other reflections when viewed in diflferent lights ; 

 the lower part of the side and belly silvery white ; cheeks 

 and gill-covers silvery, exhibiting the appearance of extrava- 

 sation when the fish has been dead twenty-four hours. Dor- 

 sal and caudal fins dusky ; the fins on the lower parts of the 

 body almost white. 



