FISHES— CLUPEIDAE-MELETTA COERULEA. 
331 
six. The body, as just stated, tapers away backwards from the insertion of the ventrals and the 
dorsal; in advance of these fins to the occiput, its depth is sensibly the same, whilst the head 
again gradually tapers away towards the snout, and constitutes more than the fifth of the entire 
length, since it enters four times in it from the snout to the last scales near the insertion of the 
caudal fin. The posterior extremity of the maxillary reaches a vertical line which would inter¬ 
sect the middle of the eye. The posterior edge of the opercular apparatus forms a uniform and 
gather flattened curve. The inferior branch of the preopercle exhibits small radiating stria; 
more conspicuous stria are observed upon the inferior and inner half of the opercle. The ante¬ 
rior margin of the dorsal fin is nearer the snout than the base of the caudal; it is as high as 
the fin is long, diminishing very rapidly in height; its upper edge being depressed or, better, 
concaved The anal is quite low ; its base entering about ten times in the total length ; its 
anterior margin being nearer the fork of the caudal than the origin of the ventrals, and propor¬ 
tionally deeper, compared to its posterior portion, than expressed upon the accompanying figure. 
The caudal fin is deeply furcated. The insertion of the ventrals takes place under the posterior 
third of the base of the dorsal; their posterior margin being subtruncated and quite broad 
when expanded. The pectorals are of moderate development, very broad when expanded, and 
sub-falciform upon their posterior margin. 
D 3, 15 + 1; A 16 + 1 ; C 4, 1, 8, 8, 1, 4 ; Y 8; P 18. 
The scales are very large, sub-orbicular, or sub-angular, deeper than long, with sub-transverse 
and irregular furrow anteriorly, and very short radiating ones at the posterior margin, which 
is finely scalloped, and not pectinated as the aspect of the figures might lead to believe. 
The hack, upper part of the head, and half of the sides are deep bluish black. The sides of 
the head and the lower half of the flanks are yellowish or whitish, with a metallic reflect. The 
fins are greyish or dull yellowish. 
References to the figures .—Plate LXXV, fig. 5, represents Meletta coerulea, from San Francisco, 
Cal., somewhat reduced in size. Fig. 6 is a scale from the dorsal region. Fig. 7, a scale from 
the abdominal region. As already stated, the last two figures give a very imperfect idea of 
the outline and structure of the scales. 
List of specimens. 
Catal. 
No. 
No. oi 
spec. 
Age. 
Locality. 
When col¬ 
lected. 
Whence obtained. 
Nature of 
specimen. 
Collected by— 
953 
i 
Adult.. 
San Francisco, Cal_ 
1853 
I.t. R. S. Williamson. 
Alcoholic_ 
Dr. A. L. Heermann.. 
954 
3 
..do_ 
Presidio, Cal_ 
1853 
Lt W. P. Trowbridge. 
-do.. 
Lt. W. P. Trowbridge. 
955 
4 
San Francisco, Cal... 
1853 
Lt. R. S. Williamson. 
_do. 
Dr. A. L. Heermann.. 
950 
1 
1853 
Lt. A W. Whipple .. 
_do. 
Dr. C. B. Kenuerly .. 
957 
5 
Young. 
California__ 
1853 
Lt. W. P. Trowbridge. 
_do. 
Lt. W. P. Trowbridge. 
958 
2 
Humboldt bay, Cal_ 
Astoria, Oregon ----- 
1854 
_do. 
959 
2 
1854 
9G0 
2 
Shoalwater bay, W.T. 
1853 
Gov. I. I. Stevens_ 
-do. 
Dr. James G. Cooper.. 
