430 CONTRIBUTIONS TO NORTH AMERICAN IClTTHyOLOGY IV. 



the genus AuxisJ^ Species of smaller size than the Tunnies, mostly 

 pelagic. [Baird.) (eu, true; Ouyvui;^ tunny.) 



6'3'§. E. alliteratus (Raf.) J. & G. — Little Tunny ; Albicore. 



Bluish above with wavy, blackish, longitudinal streaks; silvery 



below. Inferior margin of preoperculum half longer than posterior. 



Dorsal spines moderate ; pectorals reaching the vertical from the ninth 



dorsal spine. Head 3| in length ; depth 41. D. XV-I, 12-VIII ; A. I, 



12- VII. Atlantic Ocean ; occasional on our coast. 



{Scomber alliterates Raf. Caratteri di Alcnni Nuovi Geueri, 1810, 43 : Thynnus affinis, 

 thunnina, aud brcvirostris Gimtber, ii, 333-;"!65. ) 



679. E. pelaBBiys (L.) Liitken. — Oceanic Bonito. 



Back bluish ; on each side of the belly 4 brownish longitudinal bands. 

 Length of posterior margin of the preoperculum If in that of the in- 

 ferior. Pectoral reaching the vertical from the tenth dorsal spine; dor- 

 sal spines rather feeble. Head 3J; depth 4 (to fork of caudal). D. 

 XV-I, 12 + VIII; A. II, 12 + VIL {Gilnther.) Tropical seas; occa- 

 sional on our Atlantic coast. 



{Scomber pelamys L. Syst. Nat. : Thynnus pclamys Giiuther, ii, 3G5: Thynnus pelamys 

 Cuv. et Val. viii, 113.) 



Family LXXV.— CARANGID^. 



The F dot fishes. 

 Scombroid fishes, with the body more or less compressed and often ele- 

 vated, sometimes naked, or more usually covered with small, thin, cycloid 

 scales. Head compressed, the occipital keel prominent, usually trench- 

 ant. Mouth of varying size, the dentition various, the teeth generally 

 small ; iiremaxillaries usually protractile ; maxillary with or without a 

 supplemental bone; preoi)ercle urually entire in the adult, in the very 

 young armed with three or more spines.* Lateral line complete, anteri- 

 orly arched, the posterior part straight, sometimes armed with bony 

 plates. Dorsal fins more or less separated, the spinous part rather weak, 

 the spines usually depressible in a groove; anal fin long, similar to the 

 soft dorsal, always preceded by two stiff spines, usually separate, but in 

 the young often more or less connected with the fin or with each other; 

 these sometimes disappear with old age, and sometimes the spinous dor- 

 sal also vanishes; often a procumbent spine before the dorsal fin; ven- 

 tral fins thoracic, well developed, I, 5; caudal peduncle very slender, the 

 fin widely forked ; pectoral fins narrow. Gill-openings very wide, the 

 membranes usually not united, free from the isthmus. Gills 4, a slit 



* For an account of the trausformations of various members of tliis family, see LUt- 

 ken, Spolia Atlantiea, 1880. 



