454 MITCHILL ON THE FISHES OF NEW-YORK. 



Head and back greenish brown, with a few marks of brighter green or* 

 the head. Belly and sides considerably iridescent. 



Back arched, rounded, and thick. Tail forked. Belly serrated. 



Mouth and tongue toothless and smooth. Gills rising from the back 

 of the tongue on both sides of the wide throat. 



Rays, Br. 7. P. 15. V. 7. D. 19. A. 19. C. 27. 



8, Sprat Herring of N em-York. (Clupea indigena.) In its general 

 aspect and character, this fish resembles the C. parvula, before described. 

 But is, however, rather larger, and has a brownish-green spot on the 

 upper part of the branchial opening. 



He is somewhat green about the head, gills, and dorsal fin. 

 The rest of the back pale brown, or a sort of leaden colour, brighten- 

 ing up to a silvery along the sides and belly. The latter strongly serrated. 

 Rays, Br. 7. P. 15. V. 9. D. 16. A. 19. C. 25. 



9. Spring Herring, or Alewife. (Clupea vernalis.') Comes with the 

 shad to New-York, in the latter part of March and the first of April, an- 

 nually. Is about twelve inches long, and three deep. Called alewife, 

 probably from the French alevin, the young fish rejected as being under 

 size. 



Lower jaw longer than the upper, and the upper slightly bifid. Head 

 rather small, and inclining to a pale brassy yellow. Eyes large, and 

 yellowish white Back bluish green, with tints of purple occasionally. 

 Lateral line very faint, A light brassy stripe, about an inch wide, 

 though not nicely defined, extending between the upper part of the gill- 

 opening and the tail, with sometimes traces of four or five cloudy lines. 

 The rest of the sides and belly blight as alloyed silver. 



Belly strongly serrated, particularly between the abdominal fins and 

 the vent. The anal fin has sometimes seventeen rays, though the more 

 usual number is nineteen. 



Behind the branchial opening, and on the thorax, a scaly plate, and a 



