422 CONTRIBUTIONS TO NORTH AMERICAN ICHTHYOLOGY IV. 



in the tropical seas. Yery close to the Scombridcc, from -which group, 

 as here understood, the Trichiur'uhc differ chiefly in the 11011 differenti- 

 ation of the dorsal spiues. (Trk-hiitridce part 5 Giinther, 342-349.) 



*"No caudal tin; tail tapering to a point; dorsal fin single; no ventral fins. 



TRICIIIUKUS, 212. 



212.-TK1CIIIURUS Liniueus. 



Hair-tails. 



(Lepturus Artedi; Gill.) 

 (Linnrcus, Syst. Nat. xii, 176(5: type Trichiurus leplurus L.) 



Body extremely elongate, band-like, the tail very slender, tapering to 

 a fine point, without caudal fin. Head long, with a very wide mouth, 

 the jaws armed with unequal and very strong teeth; upper jaw with 

 about four long, strongly compressed barbed teeth ; teeth on the pala- 

 tines, none on the vomer. Lower jaw longest, preorbital covering cleft 

 of mouth posteriorly. Dorsal fin single, low, occupying the whole of 

 the back, the spines not distinguishable from the soft rays; anal very 

 long, its base more than half the length of the body ; composed of de- 

 tached spines, which are very short, nearly hidden in the skin, the ante- 

 rior directed backwards, the posterior forwards; ventral fins wanting 

 or reduced to small, scale-like appendages; pectorals small. No scales. 

 Lateral line decurved, concurrent with the belly. Vertebrae 39 + 120. 

 Color silvery. Voracious fishes of the high seas; reaching a consider- 

 able size, (-pixiov, a little hair; u/>, tail.) 



a. Ventral fins entirely wanting in the adult. (Trichiurus.) 



i 



666. T. lepturus Linn. Tlalr-tml. 



Uniform brilliant silvery; dorsal dark-edged. Snout long and pointed, 

 about as long as pectoral; maxillary reaching nearly to pupil, concealed 

 by preorbital. Head about 7 in length; depth about 10. Eye 2 in 

 snout. D. 135; A. about 100. Warm seas, north to Virginia and 

 Lower California. 



(Linn. Syst. Nat. xii ; Ciintlier, ii, 34<>.) 



FAMILY LXXIV.-SCOMBRID^E. 



(The Macl-fn-lx.) 



Jiody elongate, nut much compressed, covered with minute cycloid 

 scales, or else wholly naked; the scales anteriorly sometimes forming a 

 corselet. Lateral line present, its course undulate. Head subcouic, 



