402 KAMAKICHI KISmSOUYE : 



tals lies clii-ectly nuder the skiu. Occipital ci-est low aud small. Spbenotic 

 and opistliotic not visible at tlie doi"sal surface of the skull. The exclusion of 

 the opisthotic from the dorsal sm-fcice of the skull Ls qnite the same as in the 

 Cai'angidae. Accessory lateral ridges arc found on the dorsal surface of the skull. 

 Occipital condyle is remarkably hollow. Paroccipital condyles ai-e oblique, turn- 

 ed externally, and are separated from each other by the foramen magnux-. 

 Articulating facets of the skull with the atlas are on both sides of the foramen 

 magnum and do not form a part of the margin of the foramen. Vertebrae 

 generally 31 in number, they differ but little from each other in form, size, 

 different processes, etc. No transverse process. Lateral ridges in the anterior 

 veiiebrae pass gradually to the ventral ridges in the vertebrae of the posterior 

 region. 



I u-st vertebra, the atlas, is remarkable in having a pair of large, articulating 

 processes projecting, instead of declining obUquely backward, and also in having 

 the neural process attached to the centrum (fig. 30). In precaudal vertebrae the 

 neural canal is entirely covered with an arching septum to protect the spinal 

 cord, and is separated from the ligament of the vertebral column, occupjiug the 

 dorsal part of the neural canal. The nem-al process of the precaudal vertebrae 

 is more flexible and more feeble tlian that of the caudal vertebrae. In the caudal 

 vertebrae prezygapophyses and the anterior ventral processes are especially well 

 developed. The last vertebi-a and the hypural bones are not consoUdated to- 

 gether. No auxiliary intermuscular Ixmes ai"e foimd in the cephalic region. Ribs 

 are not much compressed aud hang down the abdominal wall. Pelvic girdle 

 very small. Antero-inferior corner of the dorsal flattened part of the hyomandi- 

 bular is free and rounded (fig. B). Tlie fi-ee trenchant edge of the palatine is 

 armed with a row of teeth in the genus Scomber. In the lower piece of the 

 post-clavicle we distinguish the broad proximal part with a short slender anterior 

 process, and a long slender distal part. Ethmoid is nan-ow and produced anteri- 

 orly beyond the paired lateral processes. The biisibranchial chain is ruuixjw, 

 laterally compressed, elongated, aud nearly straight. 



This fiimily is more or less related to the Qwangidae, in the presence of 

 the adipose eye-lids, free spines before the anal fin, transversely articulated fin- 

 rays, and opercle with a doreal notch, naiTow subopercle, etc. But the family 

 is distinguished fi'om tlic Carangidae in wanting cliaracters of the Percifonn 



