HERRINGS. 
243 
i thousands of a minute species of shrimp, not 
, larger than a flea. . . . The abundance of this 
j food must be enormous, if, as there can be no 
doubt was the case, all the schulls on the coast 
were as well fed as the individuals I examined.” 
The Herring on the coast of Norway feeds upon a 
minute species of shrimp, the Astacm harengum 
of Fabricius. The number of these minute crea- 
tures swimming in the sea during summer, is so 
incalculable, that a vessel dipped into the water 
will be found to have inclosed thousands. So 
great is the eagerness of the Herrings for these 
shrimps, that they follow them wherever they may 
chance to be driven by tides or currents ; and by 
constantly feeding on them, the bellies of the 
Ashes acquire a ruddy tinge, occasioned, according 
to Stroem, by a reddish humour contained in these 
minute marine insects, but more probably, as we 
think, explained by the effect of the gastric juice 
of the flsh, which turns all Crustacea red, just as 
boiling does. 
Besides these, other creatures contribute to 
furnish food to the Herring tribe. Small medusae, 
.shelled mollusca, flies, the spawn and the young 
fry of other Ashes, are all found to be agreeable 
to them. Mr. Yarrell was informed that the 
Ashermen in the Bay of Biscay throw large quan- 
tities of the salted roe of flsh about their nets, to 
attract Pilchards, and much of this substance is 
found in the stomachs of such as are caught. 
The Pilchard has been known to take a hook 
baited with a worm, and Herrings to bite at the 
artiflcial fly of an angler. They do not scruple to 
indulge even a cannibal appetite ; for, according 
to Dr. Neill, flve young Herrings have been found 
