CYBIUM MACULATUM. 67 



Cyblum maculatum, Storer, Bost. Jour. Nat. Hist., vol. iv. p. 179. 

 Cybium maculatum, DeKay, Zool. N. Y., part iii. p. 108, pi. 73, fig. 232. 

 Cybium maculatum, Storer, Synops., p. 92. 

 Spanish Mackerel, Vulgo. 



Desceiption. This is a beautiful fish, with somewhat the form of the Mack- 

 erel ; the body is, however, more elongated, slender, and compressed both above 

 and below, so that a transverse section of it appears semi-oval ; it is smooth and 

 without scales, except near the base of the dorsal fin. The head is long, com- 

 pressed, the outline above nearly straight. The snout is prolonged, narrow, and 

 terminates in a point, Avhich is slightly incurved in front ; the lower jaw is equally 

 long, and very thick in the vertical direction. The posterior nostrU is large, oval, 

 narrow, vertical, very near the orbit, and on a plane with its middle ; the anterior 

 is sub-oval, situated at a distance from the posterior, and on a plane with the 

 upper margin of the eye. The eye is of moderate size, and placed about midway 

 between the snout and posterior border of the opercle, above the median plane of 

 the head, and near the facial line ; the pupil is dusky, and the iris a pale golden 

 colour. 



The mouth is large, extending beyond the middle of the orbit of the eye ; both 

 jaws are armed with a single row of strong, elongated, conical teeth, very pointed, 

 and slightly compressed, which gives them a sub-lanceolate form ; there are about 

 eighteen in each jaw, and nearly of the same size ; the upper may be a little larger, 

 but the lower are quite as long ; they are all directed obliquely forAvard ; those of 

 the lower jaw are received within those of the upper, and decussate them when the 

 mouth is closed. The Avhole surface of the roof of the mouth is studded with 

 minute teeth, scarcely visible, but very perceptible to the touch ; besides these, 

 there is a small group of larger teeth on the anterior part of the vomer, and a 

 narrow oblong group of teeth of similar size, extending backwards on each side of 

 the palate. The tongue is short, slightly movable, pointed at the tip, broad 

 behind, and roughened with innumerable minute teeth. The pharyngeal bones 

 are small, long, narrow, and thickly studded with small, sharp teeth, curved back- 

 wards at their point. 



