4 88 
TUBE-B LADDERED GROUP 
teeth are present at all, they are rudimental and deciduous. In position the dorsal 
fin is opposite the anal, and the caudal is deeply forked. Represented by some 
sixty species, the genus has a distribution coextensive with that of the family; 
but whereas the flesh of the majority of its representatives is of excellent quality, 
that of some tropical forms may acquire poisonous properties. In the case of such 
a well-known fish as the common herring it will be superfluous to give any descrip¬ 
tion ; but it may be mentioned that this species may be distinguished from its allies 
by the presence of a patch of small ovate teeth on the vomer. It has also the 
dorsal fin situated exactly midway between the extremity of the muzzle, and the 
longest ray of the caudal fin, and the pelvic fins are directly under the dorsal. 
shad, sprats, and herring (the sliad A, the others J nat. size). 
Whitebait are for the most part the young of this species. Common to both sides 
of the cooler regions of the Northern Atlantic, the herring ranges eastwards to 
the seas on the north of Asia. Associating in shoals numbering; millions of 
individuals, the herring feeds upon crustaceans, worms, insects, and the young and 
eggs of other fishes, as well as those of its own kind. “ During the day,” writes 
Mr. J. M. Mitchell, “the shoals are sometimes observable near the surface, and may 
be seen playing on the water, as the fishermen call it, making a ripple,—a dark 
roughness similar to what we may see at the beginning of a slight breeze, this being 
somewhat observable without the appearance of either whales or birds. The passing- 
near or over them of a boat or ship makes them instantly dart off in every direc¬ 
tion, leaving the appearance of long trails of light, if at night. We have been 
