448 CONTRIBUTIONS TO NORTH AMERICAN ICHTHYOLOGY - IV. 



fins 2, the anterior of about 8 weak, low spines, connected by membrane 

 and depressihle in a groove; second dorsal long, similar to the elongate 

 anal, both lins being densely scaly; fin-rays slender. Two very small, 

 free, anal spines, sometimes hidden in the skin. Ventrals thoracic, I, 5. 

 Pectorals rather short, Caudal fin forked, the lobes broad. Air-blad- 

 der simple, with thin walls. Pyloric cceca very numerous. Vertebras 

 10+14, as in Carangidcc. A single species, found in nearly all warm 

 seas. This family is closely related to the Carangidcc, from which group 

 it is an offshoot toward the Percoids. 



(Carangidce, genus Temnodon Giintlier, ii, 479-480.) 



230. POMATOUIUS Lacdpfcde. 



Bluc-fisli. 

 (Temnodon Cuvier.) 



(Lacdpfedc, Hist. Nat. Poiss. iv, 436, 1802: type Pomatomus skib 'La.c.^Gastcrosteussal- 

 tatrix L.) 



Characters of the genus included above, (-w/io, operculum ; ro/^?, 

 cutting; from the serrated preopercle.) 

 7O8. P. saltalor (L.) Gill. Bluc-fisli; Gnen-fixh; Skip-jack. 



Bluish or greenish, silvery below ; a black blotch at base of pectoral. 

 Body robust, moderately compressed ; belly compressed to a blnntish 

 edge. Head deep ; top of head and a ridge on each side above the 

 cheeks naked. Cheeks much longer than the opercles. Pectorals placed 

 rather low, their length a little more than half that of the head. Dead 

 ;5 ; \; depth 4. D. VIII-I, 25; A. II-I, 20; Lat. 1. 95. L. 3 feet. Atlantic 

 and Indian Oceans; of late years very abundant on our Atlantic coast; 

 a large, voracious fish, extremely destructive toother fishes; valued for 



food. 



(Terra naltntrix L. Syst. Nat. xi, 17GO, i, 293: G astcrostcita saltatrix L. Syst, Nat. xii, 

 Kitllittor Cuv. &. Y;il. ix, 225: T< ininnit.n mttnhir Slon-r, Hist. Fish. 

 Ti iiiiiiiilnn xaltdtor Ciintlii-r, ii,479.) 



FAMILY LXXYI (&). NOMEIDJE. 



(The Nome! da.) 



Scombrnid fishes with the Ixtdy oblong, more or less compressed, 

 covered with cycloid scales of moderate si/e. Vertebra 1 more than 

 10+14, as in ^;-<nnl>rit!;r and Nfomatciila-. Mouth large or small, 

 usually with minute teeth ; preniaxillaries ]>rotractilc ; maxillary narrow. 

 (lill-membranes separate, free from the isthmus; pscudobranchioc large. 

 tooth-like processes in the oesophagus. Preopercle entire, or creuu- 



