230 NORTHERN ZOOLOGY. 



openings wide, the branchial rakers long, slender, and closely set, the stomach 

 forms an elongated sac, the caeca are numerous, the air-bladder is long and pointed, 

 and the ribs are more numerous and slender than in other fish. The True 

 herrings, constituting the sub-genus dupe a of Cuvier, have their labials curved 

 anteriorly, and divisible longitudinally, into several pieces, the orifice of the mouth 

 of a middle size, and no notch in the upper lip. 



Pennant describes the Common herring as so abundant on the coast of Carolina, 

 that the inhabitants fling it ashore by shovels-full, but he at the same time expresses 

 a doubt whether it be of the same species with the European fish of the same name ; 

 and it is indeed evident that this is not the case, for he says that it leaves the salt 

 water in March, and runs up the rivers and shallow streams in such numbers that 

 the passengers trample many under foot in crossing the fords. It is not the habit 

 of the Common herring to enter fresh waters, but several species of shad are known 

 to ascend the American rivers. The dwpea harengus is, however, included by 

 Schoepf and Dr. J. V. C. Smith in their respective lists of the fish of New York 

 and Massachusetts ; and popular writers on the British American colonies have 

 mentioned, without hesitation, its existence in the seas of Newfoundland and Nova 

 Scotia ; yet it is not noticed by Dr. Mitchill. Fabricius says it is rare on the 

 Greenland coast and in Davis' Straits, and that it is but of a small size in those 

 seas, its length not exceeding five inches and a half. The herring of the Kamt- 

 schatka seas, mentioned in the description of that country, is, if we may judge from 

 its habitually entering rivers, most probably a shad * ; but Mr. Collie observed a 

 clupea, which he referred to harengus, pretty abundant in Awatska Bay ; it was 

 of a small size, and had a ventricose belly. 



The migrations of the Common herring have been greatly celebrated by ichthy- 

 ological writers, and the reader will find in Pennant's British Zoology a very cir- 

 cumstantial and highly interesting detail of its hybernation within the arctic circle, 

 and of its issuing thence in the spring in a mighty army f, composed of countless 

 multitudes, the vanguard appearing off the Shetland Islands in April and May, and 

 the main body following in June, when it separates into two wings; one proceeding 



* " The herring, both the common and the variety, found in the Gulf of Bothnia, called membras, and by the Swedes 

 stroeming, visit these coasts iu shoals, perhaps equal to those of Europe. There are two seasons, the first about the end 

 of AI ay, the second in October. The first species are remarkably fine and large ; they ascend rivers, and enter the lakes : 

 the autumnal migrants are closed up in them by the shifting of the sand at the mouths of the entrance, and remain con- 

 fined the whole winter. The natives catch them in summer in nets ; and in winter in most amazing numbers, by break- 

 ing holes in the ice, into which they drop their nets, then cover the opening with mats, and leave a small hole for one of 

 their companions to peep through and observe the coming of the fish, when they draw up their booty, and string part on 

 packthread for drying ; and from the remainder they press an oil white as the butter of Finland." — Penn., Arct. Zool. 

 Intr., p. cxxvi. 



t From Pennant we learn the name of the herring is derived from the German word heer, signifying an army. 



