424 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



which is two thirds as long as the snout. The ventral insertion 

 is under the lower axil of the pectoral; the fin extends to below 

 the fifth spine of the dorsal, its length equal to postorbital part 

 of head. The pectoral extends to below the sixth spine of the 

 dorsal, its length equal to the head without the snout. Small 

 scales on nape; nasal, preorbital and mandibular regions naked* 

 sides of head mostly with enlarged, thin scales; small scales on 

 opercle; margin of subopercle finely serrate; body covered with 

 small scales; anterior half of lateral line with a slight curve, the- 

 scales prominent; posterior half of lateral line straight and 

 armed with about 31 keeled scutes, the armed portion consti- 

 tuting the second half of the length. D. Vlll-i, 34-1 ; Il-i, 28-1 ;. 

 V. I, 5; P. i, 24. Scales 15-100+31-18. 



Color slate blue or plumbeous above, silvery below; a small^ 

 black opercular spot, smaller than pupil; upper axil of pectoral 

 black. 



The mackerel scad inhabits 'the warm parts of the Atlantic^ 

 ranging northward in summer to Cape Cod. It has not yet been 

 reported in Gravesend bay, but was seined in abundance in the 

 Atlantic at Southampton L. 1. Aug. 31, 1897, associated with 

 Decapterus punctatus, young Scomber, Poma- 

 tomus. Rhombus, Clupea, Etrumeus, two species 

 of S t o 1 e p h r u s, and Paralichthys. 



The species grows to the length of 1 foot. It is excellent 



for food but large individuals seldom reach our coast. It is- 



said to be more abundant along the south Florida coast, where 



it lives in shallow water and in harbors, usually moving about in 



small schools. At Key West the fish are caught in seines, and 



are eaten. 



Genus trachurus Rafinesque 



Body rather elongate, somewhat compressed, not elevated^ 

 tapering to a slender caudal peduncle, which is as broad a» 

 deep; scales present, not very small; lateral line armed through- 

 out with plates, those on the caudal peduncle larger and spin- 

 ous; an accessory dorsal branch to the lateral line; snout rather 

 long; mouth moderate; minute teeth mostly in single series on 



