3. CAKANX. 443 



The spinous dorsal commences behind the vertical from the base 

 of the pectoral ; its spines are stoutish : the third and fourth are the 

 longest, one-fourth of the length of the head ; there is a horizontal 

 spine, belonging to one of the interneurals, in front of the fin. The 

 origin of the soft dorsal falls in the middle between the extremity 

 of the snout and the base of the caudal fin ; it has no prominent 

 point ; its anterior portion is roimded, and one of the longest ante- 

 rior rays is more than one-half the length of the head. The caudal 

 is forked, with the lobes nearly equal, of the same length as the head. 

 The anal spines are stout, the anterior being much shorter than the 

 second ; the soft anal begins in the vertical from the sixth dorsal 

 ray, and is very similar to the opposite fin in form and height. The 

 pectoral is slightly pointed, and extends to the vertical from the 

 origin of the soft anal; its length is one-fifth of the total. The 

 ventral is inserted exactly below the base of the pectoral, extending 

 to the vent ; its length is one-ninth of the total. 



The scales are very small. The lateral line makes anteriorly a 

 semicircular curve, the width of which is contained 2| times in the 

 length of the straight portion ; it becomes straight below the origin 

 of the second dorsal, and is armed with high and narrow plates, nearly 

 aU of which terminate in a depressed spine. 



The ground-coloxu- is bro^vnish ; the body and tail are crossed by 

 five blackish bands, with a sixth band-like blotch on the operculum ; 

 the dorsal, anal, and ventral fins are black ; the caudal fin and the 

 pectoral with its axil yellowish. 



inches, lines. 



Total length 3 8 



Height of the body 1 5 



Length of the head 10 



of the fourth dorsal spine 2^ 



of the third dorsal ray 6 



of the caudal 10 



of the third anal ray 6 



of the pectoral 9 



of the ventral 5 



47. Caranx helvolus. 



Scomber helvolus, Forster ; Bl. Schn. p. 35 ; Forstcr, Descr. Aniiii. 



cur. Lichteyist. p. 415. 

 Caranx helvolus, Cuv. Sf Val. ix. p. 104. 

 micropterus, Rilpp. N. W. Fische, p. 46. taf. 13. f. 1. 



D.6|^. A.^. L.lat.36. 



The first dorsal fin small ; anal spines none. Teeth in both the 

 jaws in a single series, without canines ; vomerine, palatine, and 

 Imgual teeth none. The height of the body is 3§ in the total length, 

 the length of the head 3|. Breast naked ; the lateral line is slightly 

 bent, and the straight portion begins somewhat before the vertical 

 from the middle of the dorsal. The plates are well developed, and 

 occupy the whole of the straight portion of the lateral line. The 



