FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 45 



hardly greater than its height. When unexpanded, it is en- 

 tirely concealed in a groove at its base. 



The second Dorsal, situated upon the posterior half of the 

 body, is of a fuliginous color, margined with white ; its length 

 to its height is nearly as 3 to 1 ; back of this second dorsal, 

 occupying the space between it and the tail, are five finlets, 

 the fifth, longest. 



The Pectoral fins of a dark color, having beneath them a 

 black blotch, arise back of upper third of operculum — their 

 length to their height as 1 to 3. 



The Ventral fins arise back of pectorals, and likewise have 

 beneath them a black spot at their base ; save the tinge given 

 them by this spot, they are of a flesh color. The first ray is 

 very strong ; all the rays are subdivided at their middle, and 

 again divided into smaller portions at their extremities. 



The Anal fin arises directly back of the anus, which is situ- 

 ated opposite the origin of the second dorsal. At the com- 

 mencement of this fin, is a short spine ; this fin is shorter 

 than the second dorsal, and of the same color as the abdomen. 

 Back of this fin are six finlets ; that next the anal fin, appear- 

 ing at first sight to be a portion of the fin. 



At base of Caudal, two longitudinal carinae, extending the 

 whole length of the fleshy portion of the tail : the outer rays 

 of the caudal fin, much the longer ; their articulations very 

 obvious ; fin deeply forked ; extremities margined with white ; 

 distance between extremities of caudal rays, between three and 

 four inches. 



The fin rays are as follows : D. 10-12 ; P. 17 ; Y. 5 ; A. 12 ; 

 C. 20. 



S. colias. Gmel. The Spanish Mackerel. 



Cuv. et Valenc. Hist. Nat. des Poiss. t. viii. 39, pi. 209. 

 Yarrell's British Fishes, vol. i. 131 et pi. 



This is a rare species upon our coast ; some seasons they are 

 scarcely seen at all. It is generally known by our fishermen 

 as the " Spanish Mackerel." 



