HERRING

(Germ, heer, an army; in reference to the great numbers in which the fishes so called appear, at stated seasons, along our coasts.) The name is commonly applied to two distinct but closely allied species of the genus Clupea, Linnauis: to the one Mr. Yarrell restricts the name of Clupea harengus; the other is denominated Clupea I,eachii, in commemoration of the excellent naturalist who first appears to of have herring.been aware that our coast produced a second species The genus Clvpea is so nearly allied to the genus Salmt that they are both included in the same natural famU/, under the name of Halecoids, by M. Aga iz; the principal external difference consists in the absence of the small adipose dorsal fin in the Clupea. But in the clupeoids, as in the sal- 557 [s. 571]