DISCUSSION OF SPECIES AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION. 219 



Thanks to the length of these scales, four, five, or six of them are sufficient to sjjan the 

 height of the trunk, one of such a series being crossed by the hiteral line, where its pres- 

 ence is denoted by a raised ridge. 



The leading scales oq the body, above as well as below, are shorter, aud where carried 

 on to the head are doubly as firm as those found at the fin rays. 



Without having done more than counteil the scales in a longitudinal line, [ calculate 

 that the number is considerably above 200; those of the head, althougli shorter, have tiie 

 same form as those of the trunk. There are no scales u^ion the fins. 



The caudal peduncle develops neither a cartilaginous nor an osseous plate at its sides. 

 Posterior to the anus the ventral keel is rough. 



The cranium is more cartilagiuous in structure than it is osseous, except the frontals, 

 which are rugose in line in the supraorbital region, and bristly in front, as are the turbinals 

 and suborbitals; these latter are four in luimber, the last three being very slender. There 

 are two supratemporals. 



The inferior mandible is characterized by several rows of minute spines upon the den- 

 tary and articular elements. The vertebra? number 10 plus 30. 



The anterior neural spinels not excavated, being lofty and smooth; the five that follow 

 are short and inclined backwards. The remaining ones are slender, which ai>i>Iies also to 

 Iheir hicmapophyses. The last vertebra is without lateral si)ines. 



The pleurapoi)hyses are inconspicuous, feebly developed, and have much the same size 

 and shape as the epipleurals. I discover but one pseudo-interneural spine in front of the 

 (me that supports tlie first dorsal fin ray. (Shii/cldt.) 



Eadial formula: D. 0, 34; A. 2, 33; V. I, C; P. 15; C. 1, 13-1. 



A single specimen of this remarkable fish was obtained by Poey, at Cuba, in 1872. 



An elaborate anatomical study has been made by Dr. Shufeldt. 



Family NOMEIDAE, Giinther. 



Xomeina, Gunther, Cat. Fisli, Brit. Miis., ii. 387. 



Nojiieidw, Gii.i,, Arr. Families Fishes 1S72, 10 (No. 91). — Jord.\n and Gilbert, Bull, xvi, U. S. Nat. Mils., 448. 

 A family of telef)ceplialous fishes related to the mackerels. The body ia oblong, com- 

 pressed, and covered with cycloid scales; the lateral line continuous aud unarmed; the 

 head compressed; the opercula unarmed; the nostrils double; the mouth with a lateral 

 cleft, upper jaw scarcely protractile; teeth small and conical, on the jialateas well as Jaws; 

 branchial apertures extensive ; branchiostegal rays 5 or G; dorsal more or less divided, 

 and with the spinous portion shorter than the soft.. The skeleton has numerous vertebrie 

 (in Nomeiis 10 + 25); the stoniacli very numerous i\vloric api)endages. 



This family has been constituted for the reception of several genera, at one time referred 

 to the Scombridie, viz, ^h^mciis, GaKtcro.schixma, Ciihiceps, ScrloIcUa and Platysfrthxs. The 

 species are all marine, and found in tropical or warm temperate seas. The last two are 

 represented only in the Australian and Polynesian waters. 



KEY TO THE GENERA. 



Ventral.s long, .surpassing the pectorals. 



Mouth naiTow. — Veutrals loui; and In-oad, attached to abdomen. 



Teeth on jaws, vomer and palatines r«OMEfs 



Teeth on jaws only IIauiyserioi.a 



Mouth wide. Ventrals very loug, reucivaljle in abdominal groove. New Zeaiaud. 



[G.\STEK().SCHISJHj 

 Pectorals long, surpassing ventrals; snout inflated; teeth small PSEN'ES 



NOMEUS, Cuvier. 



Kometis, Cu^^ER, Regne Animal, od. x, 1817, n, p. 315.— Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Xat. Pois.s., ix- 

 242.— Gi'NTHER, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., ii, p. 387. 



Body oblong, much compressed, witli cycloid scales of moderate size. Lateral line 

 placed high, not armed. Head with occipital crest but slightly developed; cleft of the 



