GILPIN ON THE GASPEREAUX. 109 



<down the side, green and violet reflections casting everywhere ; opercles 

 yellowish with violet reflections ; about ten or less faint bands, by turn- 

 ing the fish to the light may be observed, passing longitudinally from 

 gills to tail ; a black spot immediately behind the opercle, lips dusky, 

 fins yellowish or greenish dusky, the points, and first rays darker than 

 the others ; the same colour in the caudal fins. The scales are so 

 deciduous that they fall off in handling ; and then we find the colour of 

 the back more decided, the longitudinal bands showing as rows of 

 distinct spots, and the black spot behind the opercle very distinct. In 

 general appearance the fish is rounder and shorter than the herring — 

 greatest width anterior to dorsal fin — and about one fifth the length, eye 

 half an inch in diameter, irides silveiy, a little more than its diameter 

 from tip of upper lip, lip notched to receive the lower lip in ; nostrils 

 open half way between tip of nose, and eye ; the head shorter and 

 smaller than the herring ; the belly strongly serrated, about 35 points 

 from gill-ray to anus. 



Fins — dorsal fin, 15 rays, the first very short, and joining the second 

 which is the highest — irregularly rhomboidal, pectoral 16 rays, second 

 and third the longest, ventral 9, anal 17 ; caudal deeply cleft almost to 

 the scales, having two half rays, then seven entire rays, then several more 

 half rays, then seven entire ones and ending with two short ones, the 

 caudal fin often split and fringed, the gill ray seven of a side, the last 

 one square pointed — no teeth. 



D. 15, P. 16. V. 9, A. 17, C. 14 entire, 8 or 10 half rays. 



Our specimen is now dead, and we note how fleeting the colours of 

 the fins are, which almost should be described when floatmg in water, 

 and covered as the whole body is with nacre, doubtless to keep the 

 water from penetrating, the joints of the scales. We are now aware 

 that our fish is a true alosa, allied to the shad, the menhaden, and 

 many others, and that the stream before us is crowded with a mul- 

 titudinous marine army, coming up with the last of the flood, and 

 running the rivers to reach the lakes to spawn. A little further 

 up the stream, the river becomes deep and smooth, and is crossed 

 by the high road. Lying at our length on the log bridge, we watch 

 a continuous stream passing slowly up and up, two or three inches 

 apart. Farther up, and the river breaks over a smooth plane of 

 slate stones too shallow for his depth. Arrived at this plane, he 

 throws himself as far up as he can, and then commences a series 

 of spasmodic flaps with his tail. 



Slowly and painfully he passes over and drops exhausted 

 into the tranquil pool above. Utterly exhausted, they lie 

 heads and tails in a confused mass. Presently recruiting, their 

 heads all pointing up stream, they again commence their march. 



