170 



SCOMBERID.E. 



ACANTHOPTERYGIL 



SCOMBERIDJE. 



THE PILOT-FISH. 



Kaucrates ductor, Cuv. et VALENC. Hist. Nat. des Poiss. t. viii. p. 312, 



pi. 232. 



Gasterosteiis ,, LINNAEUS. WILLUGHBY, App. p. 7 tab. viii. fig. 2. 

 Scomber ,, BLOCH, pt. x. pi. 338. 



,, ,, Pilot-Jish, COUCH, MS. 



Centronotus ,, ,, JENYNS, Brit. Vert. p. 365. 



Generic Characters. Body covered with small scales ; dorsal fin single, 

 elongated ; free spinous rays before the dorsal and anal fins ; sides of the tail 

 carinated ; teeth small, numerous ; branchiostegous rays 7. 



THE PILOT-FISH has been so often seen, and occasionally 

 taken on our southern coast, as to be entitled to a place 

 among British Fishes : it may be immediately recognized 

 by its mackerel-like form of body and conspicuous transverse 

 bands. 



This fish was placed by Linnaeus in his genus Gasteros- 

 teus on account of the free spines anterior to the dorsal fin ; 

 but the form of the body, the minute scales, and the car- 

 tilaginous horizontal keel on the sides of the fleshy portion 

 of the tail, indicate the family to Avhich it belongs. Raffi- 

 nesque considered this fish entitled to generic distinction, 

 and assigned to it the name of Naucrates ; Cuvier and 



