DISCUSSION OF SPECIES AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION. 219 



Thanks to tlie length of these scales, four, five, or six of them are sufficient to span the 

 height of the trunk, one of such a series being crossed by the lateral line, -n-here its pres- 

 ence is denoted by a raised ridge. 



The leading scales oq the body, above as well as below, are shorter, and where carried 

 on to the head are doubly as firm as those found at the fin rays. 



Without ha\-ing done more than counted the scales in a longitudinal line, I calculate 

 that the number is considerably above 200; those of the head, although shorter, have the 

 same form as those ot the trunk. There are no scales upon the fins. 



The caudal peduncle develops neither a cartilaginous nor an osseous plate at its sides. 

 Posterior to the anus the ventral keel is rough. 



The cranium is more cartilaginous in structure than it is osseous, except the frontals, 

 which are rugose in line in the supraorbital region, and bristly in front, as are the turbinals 

 and suborbitals; these latter are four iu number, the last three being very slender. There 

 are two supratemporals. 



The inferior mandible is characterized by several rows of minute spines upon the den- 

 tary and articular elements. The vertebrae number 10 plus 30. 



The anterior neural spine is not excavated, being lofty and smooth ; the five that follow 

 are short and iucliued backwards. The remaining ones are slender, which applies also to 

 1 heir hwmapophyses. The last vertebra is without lateral spines. 



The pleurapophyses arc inconspicuous, feebly developed, and have nuich the same size 

 and shape as the epipleurals. I discover but one pseudo-interneural spine in front of the 

 one that supports the first dorsal fiu ray. {Shiifeldt.) 



Radial formula: I>. 0, 34; A. 2, 33; V. i, 6; P. 15; C. 1, 13-1. 



A single specimen of this reiiuirkable fish was obtained by Poey, at Cuba, in 1872. 



An elaborate anatomical study has been made by Ur. Shufeldt. 



Family NOMEIDAE, Gunther. 



Nomeina, Gunther, Cat. Fish, Brit. Mns., ii, 3S7. 



Nomeida; Gilt., Arr. Families Fishes 1S7L', 10 (N<>. 91).— Jordan and Gilheut, Bull, svi, U. S. Nat. Mus., 448. 

 A family of teleocephalous fishes related to the mackerels. The body is oblong, com- 

 pressed, and covered with cycloid scales; the lateral Hue continuous and unarmed; the 

 head compressed; the opercula unarmed; the nostrils double; the mouth with a lateral 

 cleft, upper jaw scarcely protractiU^; teeth small and conical, on the palate as well as jaws; 

 branchial apertures extensive ; brauchiostegal rays o or G; dorsal more or less divided, 

 and with the spinous portion shorter than the soft. Tlie skeleton has numerous vertebrae 

 (in Xomciix IC-f 25); the stomach very numerous pyloric appendages. 



Tliis family has been constituted for the reception of .several genera, at one time referred 

 to the Scombridae, viz, Nomem, OmteroscMsma, CttUceps, Seriolella and Platysiethm. The 

 species are all marine, and found in tropical or warm temperate seas. The last two are 

 represented only iu-the Australian and Polynesian waters. 



KEY TO THE GENERA. 



Ventrals long, surpassing the pectorals. 



Mouth narrow. — Ventrals long ami hroad, .attached to abdomen. 



Teeth on jaws, vomer and palatines NOMEUS 



Teeth ou jaws only Batiiyseriola 



Mouth wide. Ventrals very loug, receivable in abdominal groove. New Zealand. 



[Gasteroschisma] 

 Pectorals long, surpassing ventrals; snout inllatcd; teeth small PSENES 



NOMEUS, Cuvier. 



Komeiis, Cuvier, Regno Animal, ed. x, 1817, u, p. 315.— Cuvier & V.^lenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., ix- 

 242.— GiJNTHER, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., ii. p. 387. 



Body oblong, much compressed, with cycloid scales of moderate size. Lateral line 

 placed liigh, not armed. Head with occipital crest but slightly developed; cleft of the 



