173 



GIANT HERRING, 



Clupea Gigantea. C. argenteo-ccBrulescens elongata, ahdomim 

 rosea, squamis subhexagonis, radio ultimo pinnce dorsaUs elongata^ 



Silvery-blueish elongated Herring, with rose-coloured abdo- 

 men, subhexagonal scales, and the last ray of the dorsal 

 elongated. 



Clupea cyprinoides. 



C. radio ultimo dorsali longissirao, pinna ani lunata. Blocks t, 

 403. 



This is a species of very large size, arriving some^:' 

 times, according to Marcgrave, at the length of 

 twelve feet, and having a mouth of sufficient width 

 to receive a man's head : the general shape of the 

 fish is not unlike that of a Pike : the lower jaw is 

 longer than the upper, and the lips or side-plat^ 

 pretty strongly curved: the eyes moderately large: 

 the scales very large, and approaching to a slightly 

 hexagonal form : the general colour is a silvery blue, 

 tinged with dusky on the back, and with rose-colour 

 on the abdomen, which is smooth or not serrated : 

 the dorsal fm is distinguished by the same particu- 

 larity as in the Clupea Thrissa, being slightly scaled 

 at the base^ and terminating behind in a strong 

 and greatly lengthened ray, arching over the lower 

 part of the back, and reaching almost to the base 

 of the tail, which, as in the former species, is strongly 

 forked : all the fms are of a pale blue colour. This 

 gigantic species is a native of the Indian and Ame- 

 rican seas : it is not much esteemed as a table fish, 

 except when young, the flesh of the larger ones 

 being coarse and insipid. 



