422 CONTRIBUTIONS TO NORTH AMERICAN ICHTHYOLOGY — IV. 



iu the tropical seas. Yery close to the Scomhridce, from, which group, 

 as here understood, the TricMuridce differ chiefly in the non-differenti- 

 ation of the dorsal spines. {TricMuridce part; Giinther, 342-349.) 



*■ No caudal fin ; tail tapering to a point ; dorsal fin single ; no ventral fins. 



Tkichiurus, 21-2. 

 212.— TKICHIIJRUS Linnajus. 



Hair tails. 



(Lejyturus Avtedi; Gill.) 

 (Liunseus, Syst. Nat. xii, 176G: type Trichiurus lepiurus L.) 



Body extremely elongate, band-like, the tail very slender, tapering to 

 a fine point, without caudal fin. Head long, with a very wide mouth, 

 the jaws armed with unequal and very strong teeth ; upper jaw with 

 about four long, strongly compressed barbed teeth ; teeth on the pala- 

 tines, none on the vomer. Lower jaw longest, preorbital covering cleft 

 of mouth i^osteriorly. Dorsal fin single, low, occupying the whole of 

 the back, the spines not distinguishable from the soft rays ; anal very 

 long, its base more than half the length of the body ; composed of de- 

 tached spines, which are very short, nearly hidden in the skin, the ante- 

 rior directed backwards, the posterior forwards ; ventral fins wanting 

 or reduced to small, scale-like appendages ; pectorals small. No scales. 

 Lateral line decurved, concurrent with the belly. Vertebrce 39 + 120. 

 Color silvery. Voracious fishes of the high seas; reaching a consider- 

 able size, (rpucov, a little hair; vdpd, tail.) 



a. Ventral fins entirely wanting in the adult. (Trichiurus.) 



666. T. lepturus Linn. — Hair-tail. 



Uniform brilliant silvery ; dorsal dark-edged. Snout long and pointed, 

 about as long as pectoral ; maxillary reaching nearly to pupil, concealed 

 by preorbital. Head about 7 J in length; depth about 10. Eye 2 in 

 snout. D. 135; A. about 100. Warm seas, north to Yirginia and 

 Lower California. 



(Linn. Syst. Nat. xii; Giinther, ii, 346.) 



Family LXXIV.-SCOMBRID^. 



{The Ilaclcerels.) 



Body elongate, not much compressed, covered with minute cycloid 

 scales, or else wholly naked; the scales anteriorly sometimes forming a 

 corselet. Lateral line present, its course undulate. Head subconic, 



