238 PHYSOSTOMI. 



distance. He obtained the young 2| inches long in October, and only 4 inches 

 long the following spring. 



Hybrid. — Scale-finned shad, Alosa squamapinnata, Conch, iv, p. 123, pi. ccvi, 

 from Bristol, the skin of which is now in the National Collection, may be a hybrid 

 between one of the shads and a pilchard as suggested by Dr. Giinther, but its 

 gill-rakers have been removed. 



Another example in the same collection is considered a hybrid between the 

 two shads, with 40 gill-rakers, longer than G. finta but shorter than G. alosa. 

 D. 21, A. 25, L. 1. 68, L. tr. 22. 



As food. — Owing to its numerous bones is not- held in much reputation in 

 English markets, while its flesh is somewhat dry and tasteless. In Russia it is 

 considered unwholesome. 



Habits. — From Scandinavia throughout the seas and coasts of Europe, the 

 Mediterranean and the Nile ; it enters many rivers to breed, as already remarked 

 upon. 



It has been reported around the coasts of Scotland, as at Banff where it is rare 

 (Edward) ; appearing in the Firth of Forth at the end of July, and disappearing 

 about August (Parnell). Also round the English and Welsh coasts, as off 

 Cumberland (Heysham), Yorkshire (Yorkshire Vertebra ta), Yarmouth not 

 uncommon (Paget) ; the Thames and along the south coast as far as Cornwall, 

 where, observes R. Couch, the "twaiteshad" Alosa finta, or " Daming-herring," 

 is found in the west part of Cornwall in rather large numbers towards the latter 

 part of the summer pilchard fishery and early in the autumn mackerel fishery. 

 Frequently taken in mackerel drift-nets off Scilly, moving E. or W.E. 



In Ireland it is taken chiefly along the south coast where a few occur annually, 

 but occasionally in great numbers. It has been recorded from Belfast Bay ; 

 Newcastle, Co. Down; Youghal ; south-west of the County of Cork and 

 Gralway, Dublin, and is common in northern rivers (Andrews). Likewise Black- 

 water (Ball), and Donegal, where 2 or 3 have been taken (Thompson). It 

 attains to 16 inches (Yarrell), it never exceeds 2 lb. in weight. 



