380 HISTOET OF THE FISHES OE MASSACHUSETTS. 



o-iven by Dr. Clarke, in Yarrell's ^'Britisli Fishes," from a specimen taken in 1833, in 

 the Frith of Forth, and there can be little clonbt of their identity. 



Soon after I had received my specimen from Provincetown, Captain Atwood found 

 five other indiyidnals aliye on the beach at that place. 



FAMILY XVII. CLUPEIDiE. 



No adipose fin. The upper jaw is formed as in the Trout, at the middle by inter- 

 maxillaries, without pedicles, and on the sides by the maxillaries. Their body is always 

 very scaly. 



GElsnJS I. CLUPEA, Cuv. 



Body compressed ; scales large, thin, and deciduous. Head compressed ; teeth mi- 

 nute or wanting. A single dorsal fin. Abdominal line forming a sharp, keel-like edge, 

 which ill some species is serrated ; branchiostegous rays, eight. 



Clupea elongata, Lestmir. 

 The Common American Herring, 



(Plate XXVI. Fia. 1.) 



Cltipea hwengus, Hening of Commei ce, Mitchill, Amer. Month. Mag, ii. p. 32S. 

 Chpea ehngataj Lesuexje, Joura Acad. Kat. Sc , i. p. 250. 



«' Common Sen ing of MassachusetlSf Stokek, Eepoit, p. 111. 



" Common American Semng^ Bek\t, Eepoit, p. 250 



" Stoker, Mem Amei. Acad , New Series, ii. p. 456 



" " SjnopsiSj p 204. 



Le Eaieng deNew Yorh {Clupea ehngata, LESxiEurv), Cuv et Yal , sx. p. 247. 



Color. Above, of a deep blue tinged with yellow ; sides silvery, with metallic reflec- 

 tions ; opercles brassy, with metallic reflections ; beneath, silvery. Pupils black, irides 

 silvery. 



Bescriptioii. Body elongated, fusiform, compressed. The depth of the fish at the 

 origin of the dorsal fin is equal to one sixth its entire length ; its width, at the com- 

 mencement of the dorsal, is about one twelfth its entire length. The scales are large, 

 silvery, nearly smooth, deciduous. The abdominal ridge is indistinctly serrated. About 

 thirty serrations are seen in front of, and fifteen back of, the ventrals. The length of 

 the head, when the mouth is closed, from the extremity of the chin, is equal to about 

 one sixth of the entire length ; head naked, with a depression above, extending from 

 occiput anteriorly, exhibiting numerous mucous pores. Teeth on lower jaw, vomer, and 



