94 
PILCHAl^D. 
Papers by Mr. Richard Quiller Couch, in the “Zoologist” for 
1847. 
The ordinary size of a Pilchard is about ten inches in length, 
with a depth of one inch and three fourths; but it has been 
seen of the length of fourteen inches; plump and moderately 
compressed, with the body covered with scales that are easily 
lost. The head a little flattened on the top, nostrils nearer the 
snout, under jaw a very little the longest, no perceptible teeth; 
a broad circularly-formed mystache, which passes back to the 
front of the e}m, which organ is moderately large. The gill- 
covers are formed of numerous plates, the hindmost with diverging 
rays passing downward. Along the belly a firm ridge or series 
of peculiarly-formed scales; and those at the union of the head 
and body are obscurely striated; the others simple. The single 
dorsal fin is placed at the centre of gravity of the fish, with 
eighteen rays; anal fin narrow and far behind; pectoral near 
the termination of the hindmost gill-cover, and not reaching 
opposite the first rays of the dorsal; the rays sixteen; ventral 
fin s with short wings, and eight branched rays; the tail deeply 
divided, with twenty-two perfect rays. Colour of the back 
greyish blue, more blue or green in the younger examples; the 
belly white; sometimes pink tints on the sides; a golden spot 
sometimes on the upper part of the gill-cover. Sometimes for 
a whole season they are found with a row of spots on the sides, 
as in the Scadina, ( Atom FintaJ as is remarked by Willoughby; 
but these spots appear as if caused by disease, the fish thus 
marked being less than the usual size, soft in texture, and unfit 
for being cured. Our supposed Sardine is also commonly thus 
marked. Individuals have been seen having no dorsal fin, 
and also with the tail of twice the usual size. 
