278 



FISHES. 



FAMILY CVII.—CLUPEID^. 

 (The Herrings.) 

 Body scaly; head naked; abdomen compressed to aa 

 edge and sharply serrated; margin of upper jaw formed 

 by intermaxillaries mesially and maxillaries laterally; 

 maxillaries composed of three pieces which are some- 

 times movable; teeth usually minute or wanting; dorsal 

 moderate; anal often very long; scales usually large and 

 loose; no lateral line; gills well developed; posterior 

 part of tongue usually provided on each side with a row 

 of conspicuous "gill-rakers;" gill openings wide. 



'In most seas, many species entering fresh water to 

 spawn, a few remaining permanently. As here restricted, 

 there are about twelve genera, and one hundred and 

 twenty species. Many are highly valued as food fishes. 

 The mouth in Dorosoma is so peculiar, that it is prob- 

 ably best to regard that genus as forming a distinct 

 family (DorosomatidoB). 



* Upper jaw not projecting beyond the lower. (Cltjpein^.) 

 f Teeth wanting, or on tongue only (rarely a few weak teeth in 

 jaws) no dorsal filament; scales regularly arranged, not 

 ciliated; upper jaw emarginate. 

 X Depth 3i in length; cheeks higher than long; preopercle 

 with a very short horizontal process. . . Alosa, 1. 

 XX Depth 3t to 3J in length; cheeks longer than high; pre- 

 opercle with an oblong horizontal process. 



POMOLOBUS, 8. 



** Upper jaw projecting beyond the lover. (DoBOSOMiNii!.) 

 a. Body compressed, deep; last ray of dorsal filamentous; 

 mouth toothless, , ' , , , , Dobosoua, 3. 



/. ALOSA, Cuvier. Shads. 

 1. A. sapidissima, (Wilson) Storer. Common Shad. 

 Head 4^ in length; eye 5 in head; bluish, sides silvery; 



