MITCHILL ON THE FISHES OP NEW-YORK. 451 



Back brownish* Belly white, and its edge deeply serrated. 



Dorsal fin about midway of the back. Ventrals opposite. Mouth 

 and tongue quite smooth. Upper lip slightly bifid. Tail deeply forked. 

 Lower jaw double, elongated and furnished with a teat to suit the bifid 

 notch. 



Is reported to be an inhabitant of that part of the bay of New-York 

 which borders on Staten-Island. 



Rays, Br. 3. P. 16. V. 9. A. 20. D. 16. C. 27. 



3. New-York Herring. (Clupea halec.) Has no spots on the sides. 

 Back variegated with intermingling shades of blue and green. 



Beneath the lateral line a yellow stripe. Sides below, a silvery white. 

 Belly serrate. Tail deeply forked. Mouth and tongue smooth. 

 Rays, Br. 7. P. 16. V. 9. D. 16. A. 19. C. 21. 



4. Long-Island Herring. (Clupea mattowaca.) Called also the air- 

 tumnal or fall herring. 



Length frequently from twenty inches to two feet ; and depth from 

 four and a half inches to six. Is caught most commonly in autumn, and 

 brought to market with the fall running of striped perch, or rock fish. 

 In October and November the present fish is taken in seines of the surf- 

 side of the beaches fronting Long-Island. He occupies a middle station 

 between the shad and the Staten-Island herring. The individual before 

 me, a middling one, weighed twenty-two ounces. Sometimes reaches 

 four or five pounds. 



Beside the general features of the clupea tribe, the present species 

 has the following marks. A lower jaw thick, double, and projecting. 

 The upper jaw slightly bifid. There is a little eminence on the tip of 

 the lower jaw to suit the notch in the upper. When the mouth is closed, 

 the extremity of the chin is the most projecting part of the head. The 

 eyes are large and yellowish. There is a sooty spot behind the gill- 

 opening, above. The dorsal fin is single, consisting of seventeen rays, 



