166 



SHAD. 



which are dilated on each side iato a kind of laminse, 

 the bottom forming a sharp carina down the belly : 

 the colour of the body is bright silver, inclining to 

 dusky on the back, arid niarked on each side, at a 

 small distance from the gills, by four pr five or more 

 rounded black spots, of which the first or that 

 nearest the gills is the largest : the scales are rather 

 large : the upper lip is divided by a deep incisure 

 on the lower part : the fins are of a blueish tinge, 

 the tail forked, and marked on each side the base 

 by a subtriangular dusky patch: the lateral line 

 runs nearly strait from the gills to the tail : on each 

 side the abdomen, at the bas^ of the ventral fins, is 

 a small pointed appendage or process. 



This fish is a native of the Mediterranean and 

 Northern seas, and, like the Salmon, ascends rivers 

 at particular seasons, for the purpose of depositing 

 its spawn, being found, according to Bloch in the 

 Ehone in the month of March, and in the Volga, 

 the Rhine, and the Elbe in April. It is observed 

 to deposit its spawn in the deepest part pf t}ie 

 river, and towards autumn returns again to the 

 sea. It grows to the length of two or three feet. 

 It is generally observed to be poor and meagre 

 when it first quits the sea, but grows fatter the 

 longer it continues jn fresh w^ter. Like the Her- 

 ring, it dies almost immediately after being taken 

 out of the water, and is supposed to feed chiefly on 

 worms, insects, and young fish. 



According to Mr. Pennant the Shad is found in 

 greater perfection in the Severn than in any other 

 British river, making its first appearance in April 



