130 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



GENUS TEMNODON. 



Teeth on the outer row separate, flat, and lancet-shaped ; inner series crowded. Velvet-like 

 teeth on the vomer, palatines and tongue. The first dorsal fin in a furrow. Two short 

 concealed spines before the anal. Tail unarmed. 



THE BLUE-FISH. 



Temnodon saltator. 

 plate xxvi. fig. 81. 



Gastcrostats sallatrix. Lin. 12 Ed. p. 421. 



Pomatome skip. Lacepede, Vol. 4, p. 430. 



Horse Mackerel, Scomber plumbeus. Mitchill, Lit. and Phil. Soc. Vol. 1, p. 424, pi. 4. fig. 1. 



Le Temnodon sauteur, Temnodon saltator. Cuv. et Val. Hist, des Poiss. Vol. 9, p. 225, pi. 260. 



Blue-Jish, T. saltator. Storer, Fishes of Massachusetts, p. 57. 



Characteristics. Bluish above ; lighter on the sides and beneath. Length six to twelve inches. 



Description. Body oblong, subcylindrical, compressed ; facial outline gently sloping. 

 Scales adherent, subquadrate, entire in some parts, faintly ciliate elsewhere ; extending over 

 the head, opercles, and high up on the fins. Lateral line nearly concurrent with the back. 

 Eyes large, one and a half diameters from the nose. Nostrils double, approximate ; the 

 anterior round, the posterior a vertical slit. Lower jaw longest, with from ten to twelve 

 lancet-shaped distant teeth on each side ; these teeth are minutely crenate on their edges. 

 The upper jaw slightly protractile, with from twenty-five to thirty similar shaped teeth ; and 

 behind these another series, in front of very small teeth. Card-like teeth on the palatines, 

 disposed in three groups ; one anterior and triangular, the two others oblong. Tongue 

 distinct, smooth, with a frenum ; on its base are two long parallel patches of recurved card- 

 like teeth. Opercle rounded, with two indistinct flat points ; interopercle ciliate. Behind 

 the symphisis of the chin, are two large cavities. 



The first dorsal fin commences five and a half inches from the end of the nose, and is 

 composed of seven delicate flexible spinous rays, all capable of being received into a deep 

 fissure ; the eighth ray, noticed by Cuvier, has escaped my observation. At an interval of an 

 inch commences the second dorsal, which is high, and covered with a very thick membrane 

 on its anterior portion ; it is composed of one short and twenty-five longer rays. Pectorals 

 large, slightly anterior to the ventrals, with a scaly plate covering the outside of its base. 

 Ventrals with one short spinous, and five branched rays ; the membrane from the last ray 

 extends far back, and unites with that of the opposite side. The anal fin, in size, shape and 

 structure, resembles the second dorsal : it commences a little behind the origin of that fin, 

 and extends the same distance behind its termination. There are two very short spines, 

 concealed under the skin, before the first short spinous ray. Caudal deeply forked, with its 

 base and some of its rays covered with minute scales. 



