Zoology.] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Fishes. 



Although the species of Scomberesox, like the Mackerel, have 

 finlets between the dorsal and anal fins and the tail, they have no 

 adipose eye-lid. Like the Mackerel also, species of this genus, 

 almost undistinguishable externally, really differ by the presence 

 or absence of the swim-bladder ; the English and Mediterranean 

 Mackerel differing in this respect, as the present Scomberesox and 

 the Atlantic specimens differ from the Mediterranean one, by having 

 a swim-bladder, which does not exist in the latter. The swim- 

 bladder is very distinct in our species. 



I greatly doubt the distinctness of this species or variety from 

 S. saurus, but am not sure of the amount of variation in the relative 

 lengths of the jaws in the latter ; Cuvier figuring and describing 

 the upper jaw as considerably shorter, but praising the accuracy 

 of Donovan's figure of an English example, which has the jaws as 

 nearly equal as ours. I find about the same number of scales as 

 Dr. Giinther attributes to S. saurus in the longitudinal lines from 

 head to tail, so that his suggestion that S. Forsteri may have smaller 

 scales does not, I think, stand as a distinction between the species. 



Three specimens in the Museum were caught in Hobson's Bay 

 in April. 



Explanation of Figures. 



Plate 135. — Fig. 2, side view of specimen, three-fourths the natural size. Fig. 2a, side 

 view of head, seven-eighths natural size, to show form of plates and rows of mucous pores. 

 Fig. 2b, head, viewed from above, showing the lower jaw extending beyond the upper at sides 

 and tip. Fig. 2c, interior of lower jaw, showing rows of teeth on side, and transverse horny 

 ridges on middle. Fig. 2d, scale of body, magnified. Figs. 2e, 2/j 2g, scales of abdominal keels, 

 magnified. 



Frederick McCoy. 



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