SCRIBBLFD MACKAREL. 85 



But tlie distinguishing peculiarity of this species is in its 

 colour, which is generally a brilliant blue, deeper on the head 

 and back; along the sides, below the lateral line, light pink, 

 which separates the blue above from the white belly. The 

 waved lines proceeding downward from the back were minutely 

 scribbled or zigzagged, and more numerous than in the Common 

 Mackarel, in the proportion of three to one; added to which 

 there were alternate deeper and lighter bands of the general 

 colour thrown over the whole. In one specimen these alternate 

 bands were not perceptible, but along the top of the head to 

 the snout there were strongly-marked reticulated lines on a 

 light ground, all of which were separated from the cheeks by 

 a well-defined, although somewhat irregular border of black or 

 deep blue. The lines of colour on the back, which at their 

 beginning did not exceed in thickness a piece of whipcord, in 

 passing below the lateral line towards the belly became still 

 smaller, and separated into two or three branches in a level 

 with the pectoral fin. The ventral and anal fins and finlets 

 below were of a pale pink colour. In one example the 

 separated terminations of the zigzag lines on the side appeared 

 like waving circles, or half circles, with spots. The first 

 dorsal fin had eleven rays, pectoral twenty-one, and the ventral 

 six. There was no air-bladder; and on the 15th. of May the 

 roe far advanced. 



