426 APPENDIX. 



is taken from the first example, and the description from a 

 comparison of the whole of the number thus referred to. 



Compared with a Mackarel of the ordinary size the body is 

 stouter, and the head conspicuously so; but the body becomes 

 proportionally more slender near the tail; where in the smaller 

 individual the latei-al carina or ridge was obscure, but in the 

 others well developed; no scales to be discerned on the body, 

 but an irregular corset along the side of the back, which in 

 the lai-ger examples was scarcely to be discerned; the lateral 

 line begins above the root of the pectoral fin, and is irregular 

 in its course. The snout protrudes, and the joint which unites 

 the snout to the forehead is much more elevated proportionally 

 than in the Mackarel; under jaw a little in advance of the 

 upper; gape wide; teeth conspicuous and strong; eye rather 

 large; many small lines running backward from the hindmost 

 border of the eye and end of the mystache; nostrils midway 

 from eye to snout. The first dorsal fin begins in a line above 

 the root of the pectoral; in the first example six of its rays 

 were long, the fourth and fifth longest, after which the fin 

 passed very narrow to the origin of the second dorsal; but in 

 three examples the first ray was longest, and the decrease in 

 length was gradual; twenty-four rays in all, their roots in a 

 chink, which was deepest to receive the larger rays; the second 

 dorsal low, as is the anal, the former with fifteen rays, the 

 latter eleven; finlets eight above and below; pectoral fin short 

 and wide, with twenty-three rays; tail much forked, but the 

 rays not counted, from the obscurity of those in the middle. 

 The colour a cast of beautiCul blue along the back and upper 

 part of the sides, with fourteen broad circular belts of a deeper 

 tint along the body; tints of yellow in one example on the 

 first gill-cover and behind the head. The first dorsal fin in the 

 larger examples intensely black; the second dorsal, pectoral, 

 and tail dark, the two last with a light border; fins below 

 light; belly siivery. 



