CLUPEIDA. — XXX. 71 
the development of membranous sheaths at bases of fins and else- 
where. (cavpos, name of some sea-fish.) 
70. MEGALOPS Lacépéde. (péyadow, large eye.) 
165. M. atlanticus Cuv.& Val. Tarpum. Tarpon. GRANDE 
Ecartix, Sitver-risH. Sasato. Savanitya. Brilliantly 
silvery. Mouth large, its cleft oblique, extending beyond the very 
large eye; lower jaw very prominent; D. inserted behind V.; dor- 
sal filament as long as head. Head 4; depth 4. D.12. A. 20. 
Lat. 1.42. LL. 6 feet. West Indies and Gulf Coast, occasional N. 
to Cape Cod; remarkable for its enormous scales, sometimes three 
inches across. 
Famity XXX. CLUPEIDA. (Tue HeErrines.) 
Body oblong, covered with cycloid scales; head naked; side of 
upper jaw formed by maxillaries; maxillaries composed of 2 or 3 
pieces ; teeth feeble or wanting ; dorsal moderate; anal often very 
long ; caudal forked ; no lateral line ; no gular plate ; branchios- 
tegals 6 to 15; the tips of the larger ones abruptly truncate; pseu- 
dobranchize present; gill rakers long and slender; gill openings 
wide. 
Genera about 17; species 120; found in most seas, many spe- 
cies entering fresh water to spawn, a few remaining permanently. 
Many are highly valued as food fishes. It is probable that the 
Clupeide are more numerous in individuals than any other family 
of fishes. 
u. Maxillary large, of about three pieces ; mouth terminal, the jaw scarcely 
shorter; carnivorous fishes, with simple not muscular stomach. 
6. Belly rounded, with ordinary scales; the body subterete, supplemental 
bones of maxillary very narrow. (Dussumieriine.) 
c. V. small, behind D.; teeth small, persistent. . . . Errumeus, 71. 
6b. Belly compressed to an edge and more or less serrated ; body com- 
pressed ; bones of maxillary broad. (Clupeine.) 
d. Scales with their posterior edges entire and rounded. 
e. Last ray of D, not sepmaa scales loosely attached ; vertebrae 47 
to56. . 2... «© + « « CLupeEa, 72. 
ee. Last ray of D. produced - in a ‘long filaments scales rather firm; 
vertebra 48. . . . . ‘ » « « » QOPISTHONEMA, 73. 
id. Scales with their posterior imarkias vertical, and pectinate or fluted; 
head very large ; D. small, posterior... . . . BREvVoorTIA, 74. 
aa. Maxillary short and narrow, with a single supplemental bone ; mouth 
small, inferior, the lower jaw much shorter; mud-eating fishes, with the 
stomach muscular, like the gizzard of a fowl. (Durvsomine.) 
J. Last ray of D. produced in a long filament. . . . . Dorosoma, 75. 
71. ETRUMEUS Bleeker. (From the Japanese name.) 
166. B. sadina (Mitchill). Rounp Herrinc. Mouth smali, 
reaching front of orbit; eye large; fins all very small. Bluish, 
