452 MITCHILL ON THE FISHES OP NEW-YORK. 



placed about the middle of the back ; and the ventrals are almost ex- 

 actly opposite to it below. These latter consist of nine rays. The pec- 

 toral fins are situated far forward, and composed of sixteen rays. The 

 belly is serrated as well as carinated ; and the serrae are more and more 

 distinct, as they approach the vent. 



The colour of the back is brownish, with but weak tints of green and 

 fainter of blue. Below the green shading, there is a faint riband of 

 yellowish, about three quarters of an inch wide from head to tail. Be- 

 low this the skin whitens toward the belly. 



The scales are deciduous and silvery. And, as in various other species 

 of this genus, the true complexion and hue can only be distinguished 

 after their removal. 



The anal fin and the caudal have each twenty-one rays, and the 

 branchial seven. The tail is profoundly forked, and when naturally ex- 

 panded measures between four and five inches across from one extre- 

 mity to the other. 



Some call this fish the shad herring, and some the fall shad. He 

 is reckoned to be almost equal to the shad, as an article of food. He is 

 probably the full grown fish of the mediocris species. Though I have 

 marked them as different, they certainly approach so near that it is im- 

 possible to discriminate the species in many individuals. 



5. Tiny Herring. (Clupea pusilla.) About six inches long. Three 

 faint lines or stripes, lengthwise along the back, with imperfect vestiges 

 of more. 



Belly serrated. Tail forked. Figure and colour so much like the 

 C. halec, that he is not improbably the young of that species. 

 Rays, Br. 7. P. 14. V. 9. D. 14. A. 18. C. 21. 



6. Little Herring. (Clvpea parvula.) About six inches long, having 

 neither stripes nor spots. 



A little greenish about the head, gills, and eyes ; but neither green nor 



