CAE.tNGIDA'. 417 



Fam. 17. CARANGID^. 



Scomberoidei, pt., et Squaniipiunes, pt., Cuv. Regne Anim. ; Miiller, 

 Berl. Abhandl. 1844, p. 201,- Owen, Lect, oh Compar. Anat. Vert. 

 i. p. 49. 



Body generally compressed, oblong or elevated, covered with small 

 scales or naked ; eye lateral. Dentition variable. The infraorbital 

 bones do not articulate with the prajopercnlimi. The spinous dorsal 

 less developed than the soft or than the anal, either continuous with, 

 or separated fi-om, the soft portion, sometimes rudimentaiyf. The 

 posterior rays of the dorsal and anal fins sometimes semidetached. 

 Ventrals thoracic, sometimes rudimentary or entii-ely absent. No 

 prominent papilla near the vent. Gill-opening wide ; generally seven 

 branchiostegals and pseudobranchiaej; air-bladder present ; pyloric 

 appendages generally in great number§. Vertebrae 10/14. 



Inhabitants of the seas of the temperate and tropical regions, many 

 of the species having a very wide range. 



This family forms a very natural division, widely differing from 

 the Scombridce in the structure of the vertebral column, which is 

 composed of ten abdominal and fourteen caudal vertebrae. The only, 

 exception is found in the genera Chorinemus and Temnodon, where 

 the number of the vertebrae is increased by one or two : but a com- 

 parison with Lichia shows that their natural position is by the side 

 of this genus. Several authors have also distinguished a family of • 

 Carmufidce ; but if they have defined it at all, they have applied 

 characters very different from those given above, and have not paid 

 attention to the structure of the skeleton. 



I divide this family into two groups : — 



The soft dorsal and anal of nearly equal extent . . A. Carangina. 

 One dorsal fin only, much shorter than the anal . . B. Kurtina. 



Sijji02isis of the Genera. 

 First gmup : Carangina. 



a. Two anal spines remote from the soft portion. 



* Lateral line with plate-Hke shields, each of which is 

 generally armed with a spine. 

 Lateral line entirely shielded 1 . TkachPeus. 



t A single short dorsal in the second group. 

 \ Absent in Lichia and Trachynotus. 

 § In small number in Equula and Lactarius. 

 VOL. II. ^ E 



