294 CLASSIFICATIOX OF FISHES_, ETC. 



which latter is nearly as large as the pectoral ; anal 



fin moderate. 



C. harengus Bl. pi. 29. f. 1. finta. Yarrell, ii. p. 131. 

 Leachii, Yarrell, ii. p. 117. communis. lb. ii. 136. 

 auro-vittata. Sw. Ap. 



Platygaster Sw. General form of the herrings (Clupea)_, 

 but the ventral fins are almost obsolete ; dorsal fin 

 placed between the ventral and anal^ which last is 

 very long ; mouth sub- vertical ; belly serrated. 



PI. Africanus. Bl. 407. parva. Gray, Ind. Zool. ii, 



megalopterus. Russ. pi. 191. pi. f. 3. 



affinis. Gray, Ind. Zool. Indicus. Russ. pi. 192. 



Pristogaster C. Mouth completely vertical ; ventral fin 

 entirely wanting ; belly prominent^ carinated^ and ser- 

 rated ; dorsal fin very small ; anal considerably 

 lengthened. 



Indicus. Russ. pi. 1 93. Martii. Spix and Agass. pi. 24. 



CoRicA Ham. Size very small ; general aspect of the 

 herrings ; body diaphanous^ briUiant silvery ; the 

 ribs discernible through the integuments ; the bones 

 green ; mouth completely vertical^ '^ descending in a 

 straight line from the extremity of the head ;" jaws 

 without teeth^ not protractile ; lips scarcely percep- 

 tible ; but two oblong flat bones, hanging perpendi- 

 cularly, represent the upper hp ; vent behind the 

 middle ; belly carinated and serrated ; anal fins two, 

 the second small, and of about four rays ; dorsal 

 central, placed between the ventral and the first anal.* 

 C, argentata Sic. Ham. p. 253. {Soborna.) 



Chirocentrus Cuv. Body compressed, elongated, 

 and naked, or without scales ; the belly sharp or 

 carinated, and " serrated with small fibresj"t mouth 



* The above characters are taken from Dr. Hamilton (Gang. Fishes, 

 p. 2o3.) : the diaphanous structure of this singular lish, its excessive thin- 

 ness, its vertical mouth. Sec , all show its analogy to SUrnoptyx as a chiro- 

 nectiform type ; but in which of the divisions of the Clupince it naturally 

 enters, can only, at present, be conjectured. 



t The most extraordinary character of this remarkable fish is not noticed 

 by Cuvier. It is the only one in its family that is entirely destitute of scales ^ 



