120 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



spines in the dorsal and by the direction of the lateral line, which de- 

 scends abruptly below the second dorsal, instead of gradually, as in the 

 other American species {regalis, vmcidatiis, concolor), all of which have 

 17 or IS spines in the dorsal. 



58. Scomberomorus maculatus (Mitcliill). Spaninh Mackerel. 



Not common ; two or three specimens seen. Not distinguished by the 

 fishermen from the next species. Neither are held in special esteem at 

 Key AVest, and both are less valued than the great kingfish, which 

 reaches a much larger size than tuey. In this species the spots on the 

 sides never coalesce into a lateral stripe. 



59. Ecomberomorus regalis (Bloeli). Spaiiislt. Ahukcrel. 



Eather common ; numerous sijecimens brought in with the kingfish. 

 Also occasionally taken with liook and line from the wharves. The col- 

 oration of this species is similar to tliat of the preceding, but the bronze 

 si)ots are rather larger, and one series of them coalesce to form a more 

 or less interrupted narrow lateral bronze stripe. The caudal peduncle 

 and caudal lobes are distinctly slenderer than in tS. maculatus ixnA tho, 

 eye is a little larger ; the angle of the preopercle is more produced back- 

 wards in tS. re<jaHs and the mouth is i)erhaps a trifle smaller. There is 

 no difference appreciable in the dentition. The two species are there- 

 fore very close, but there is no reason to doubt their distinctness. 



60. Euthynnus alliteratus (Ratinos(iu<»J. Bovito. 

 {ficomber alliteratus Ratint'sque, 1810. 

 Scomber qiiadripunctatiis Geotiroy St. Hilaire, lb09? 

 Thynnuts thuunina Cuv. & Val., 1831.) 



Common, taken with the kingfish, but in much less abundance. A 

 food fish of moderate value, the llesh being considered coarser than that 

 of the kingfish. The black spots on the side of the breast which sug- 

 gested the name quadripunctatus vary somewhat, five being often pres 

 ent. We are not sure as to the priority of date between quadrqjunc- 

 tatus and ulUteratus. 



CORYPHiENIDiE. 



61. Coryphaena hippurus L. Dolphin. 

 Not uncommon; three adult si)ecimens, taken with troll-hook by king- 

 fish fishermen ; one is a male, the other two are females ; all with sexual 

 organs well developed. There is no difference in color in the two sexes, 

 the only evident sexual difference being in the great development of the 

 crest on the top of the head in the male. 



In life the ground color is a deep, clear yellowish, or olive-green, 

 golden-green on the sitles, paler below. In death the green and olive 



j fade rather suddenly to a gra;^ish-silvery, tinged with bluish and Avith 



bright refiectious, the olive remaining in irregular patches on various 

 parts of the body. The changes in the color in the dying doli)hin have 



1 been, as Professor Gilbert has already (Proc. U. S Nat. Mns., 1882, 598) 



