108 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



GENUS CYBIUM. Cuvier. 



Teeth large, pointed, usually compressed, trenchant and lancet-shaped. Body without a 

 scaly corselet. Palatines and front of the vomer with asperities. First dorsal very long. 



THE SPOTTED CYBIUM. 



Cybium maculatum. 



PLATE LXXIII. FIG. 232. 



The Spanish Mackerel, Scomber maculatus. Mitch. Lit. and Phil. Soc. Vol. 1, p. 426, pi. 6, fig. 8. 

 Le Tassard tachelc, Cybium id. Cov. et Val. Hist. Poiss. Vol. 8, p. 181. 



Characteristics. Greenish and lead-colored above ; sides silvery, with numerous yellowish 

 large spots. First dorsal fin black in front. Lateral line waved. Length 

 18-20 inches. 



Description. The shape and general appearance of the Scomber colias. Head pointed, 

 and to the whole length as one to six nearly, with the lower jaw somewhat longest and rounded. 

 Lateral line following the general curve of the back nearly, but meandering in a very irregu- 

 lar and serpentine course. Eyes very large. Mouth large, armed with distinct, acute, and 

 slightly conic teeth, except in front, where they are wanting. 



The first dorsal fin with seventeen rays, of which the fourth and fifth are longest ; nearly 

 all may be concealed in a furrow. The second dorsal triangular, excavated on its upper mar- 

 gin, and containing two simple and fifteen branched rays : behind this are eight (nine accord- 

 ing to Cuvier) finlets ; and posterior to the anal, nine or ten finlets. Pectoral fins pointed, 

 with twenty-two rays. Ventrals small. Anal fin with two simple and fifteen soft rays, similar 

 in shape to the second dorsal. Caudal broadly lunate. Branchial rays seven. 



Color. Greenish above, blending into ashen grey. Sides and all beneath lustrous white. 

 About twenty yellowish rounded spots, a quarter of an inch in diameter, irregularly distributed 

 along the sides. First dorsal fin black as far as the eighth or ninth ray. Pectorals brownish 

 externally, black within. Ventrals and anal whitish. 



Length, 18-0-24-0. 



Radial formula, D. 17.2.15 + x; P. 22 ; V. 1.5; A. 2.15 + ix; C. 22. 



It occurs sparingly in our waters from July to September, and is considered good eating. 

 New-York appears to be its northernmost limits. It extends through the Caribbean sea to 

 the coast of Brazil. 



EXTRA-LIMITAL. 



C. regale. (Cuv. et Val. Vol. 8, p. 184.) Teeth compressed and trenchant. A broad brownish 

 longitudinal band, with roundish spots above and beneath. Length one to two feet. Gulf of 

 Mexico. 



