92 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 



Family CLUPEID^. 



The Herrings. 



Body oblong or elongate, more or less compressed. Head 

 usually compressed. Adipose eyelid present or absent. Pre- 

 maxillaries not protractile. Mouth rather large, terminal. Jaws 

 about equal. Maxillaries forming lateral margins of upper jaw, 

 each composed of about 3 pieces. No gular plate. Posterior 

 lower part of opercular region often with an angular emargina- 

 tion, tips of larger branchiostegals abruptly truncate. Gills 4, 

 slit behind fourth. Gill-rakers long and slender. Gill-membranes 

 not connected, free from isthmus. Branchiostegals usually few, 

 6 to 15. Pseudobranchiae present. Body covered with cycloid 

 or pectinated scales. Belly sometimes rounded, sometimes com- 

 pressed, in which case it is often armed with bony serratures. 

 Head naked. No lateral line. Vertebrae 40 to 56. Dorsal fin 

 median or somewhat posterior, rarelv wanting. No adipose fin. 

 Ventrals moderate or small. Anal usually rather long. Caudal 

 forked. 



A large family inhabiting all seas, usually swimming in im- 

 mense schools. Some ascend fresh water and some remain there 



permanently 



Key to the genera. 



/ 



a. DussuMiERiix.i;. Belh' rounded, covered with ordinary scales ; supple- 

 mental maxillary very narrow. ETRumeus 

 aa. Clupein.e. Belly compressed, armed with bony serrse; supplemental 

 maxillary broad; A. 15 to 25; dorsal inserted nearly opposite ventral. 

 b. Scales with entire and rounded posterior margins. 

 c. Last dorsal ray not produced. 



d. Vomer with teeth. clupEA 



dd. Vomer toothless. 



e. Premaxillaries meeting at a large angle so that tip of 

 upper jaw does not appear notched; cheeks longer than 

 deep. poMOLOBUs 



ee. Premaxillaries meeting in front at very acute angle so 

 that emarginate tip of upper jaw receives slender tip of 

 lower ; fore part of cheeks very deep, deeper than long. 



ALOSA 



cc. Last dorsal produced in a long filament. clupanodon 



hh. Posterior margins of scales vertical and pectinate or fluted. 



BREVOORTIA 



