260 PROCEEDINGS OP THE ACADEMY OP 



the total length. The second anal spine is largest, and equals the fourth 

 dorsal one; the longest soft ray enters six times and two thirds in the total 

 length. The caudal fin is slightly emarginated and nearly equals a fifth of 

 the length. The produced pectoral ray rather exceeds a quarter of the length, 

 and the ventral fins enter five times and a half in the same. 



1 



D. X. 11. A. III. 5 -. P. 6. VI. V. I. 5. 



1 



The color is lohitish on the body, blackish on the shoulders and from the 

 dorsal fin to the eyes, and with four complete, oblique, blackish bands; the 

 first under the middle of the spinous dorsal ; the second under the last spine ; 

 the third under the middle of the soft dorsal, and the fourth encircling the 

 caudal peduncle. The head has three lateral bands, one on the preorbital 

 region, a second on the cheek, and third on the posterior margin of the pre- 

 operculum. The operculum has a longitudinal oblong spot. The chin has 

 four spots forming the angles of a rhomb, and there is another one behind, on 

 the branchiostegal membrane near the margin. The spinous dorsal is mar- 

 gined with blackish, and the two bands beneath more or less ascend on it; 

 anal blackish. The caudal has a blackish B-shaped mark and a band at its 

 base divided by the lateral line. The pectoral is dusky, with a black spot at 

 its base nearly surrounded by a clear area, and separated from a spot in front 

 of the base. The ventrals are blackish, with nearly transparent sides and 

 margin. 



This species is very distinct, readily recognized by the color, and especially 

 the large mark on the caudal fin, in allusion to which the name has been 

 given. It is, perhaps, most nearly allied to Cirrhitus ajjrinus. One specimen, 

 scarcely an inch and a half long, was obtained. 



Family SCOMBROIDS (Cuv.) Gill. 



Subfamily SCOMBRIN^E Swainson. 



Genus Scomber (L.) 



Scomber diego Ayres. 



Proc. California Academy Nat. Sciences, vol. i. p. 92. 



Three specimens of a species which is doubtless identical with the one de- 

 scribed by Dr. Ayres, were obtained. 



Family CARANGOIDJE Blkr. 

 Subfamily CARANGIN^E (Bon.) 



Genus Trachurds (Raf.) 



Tkacuurus symmetricds Girard. 



Caranx symmetricus Ayres, Proc. California Academy of Nat. Sciences, pt. 1, 



p. 62. 

 Trachurus trachurus pt. Gurdher. 



After an examination of numerous specimens, I am unable to discover any 

 valid reasons for uniting the European, Japanese and Californian fishes in one. 

 They differ in the course of the lateral line, the comparative size of the pec- 

 toral, &c, and can be readily distinguished at the first glance. The Californian 

 species has the flexure very abrupt and oblique, and the pectoral fin equal to 

 the length of the head before the preoperculum. The Trachurus declivis of the 

 Australian seas is not represented in the Smithsonian Collection, but I am dis- 

 posed to believe that that species may also be distinguished from the Japanese 

 species, to which it is most related. At another time I will again revert to 

 this subject. 



[May, 



