410 KAMAKICHI KISHINOUYE: 



auil GrmiinvitoiTi/mts. The second basibniucLial is beut downward at the 

 middle. 



Neural and haemal spines of the candal vertebrae are not stiaight, bnt 

 more or less curved. Tlie haemal arch iu the precaudal vertebrae is shoii, 

 and turned anteriorly, the haemal spine is little developed in the precaudjxl 

 region. 



Seerfishes are generally- active when the sea is rough, and the cuiTent 

 sti'ong, also in the morning and in cloudy weather. They often leap out of 

 the water, and when they are impounded in a net, they try to get out of it 

 through the meshes at the bottom, especially at night. Generally they swim 

 near the shore, but some of them are chiefly jxihigic. Many of them assemble 

 and form l)ig shoals, and approach the shore iu the breeding season. They 

 are predaceous fish, ihey feed on small fish such as sardines, anchovies, 

 saurels, mackerel, and sometimes shrimps and calamaries. Found iu the 

 temperate and tropical seas. Many of them are excellent food-fish. Small im- 

 matui-e specitBeus of the Cybiidae are more or less flat and broad, larger specimens 

 are thick and elongated, quite contrary to the case of the Katsuwouidae. 



This family is related on one hand to the Xiphiidae in the reticulate gills, 

 absence of gill-rakers, small narrow scales, etc. through the genus Acanthocyhmm, 

 to the Scombridae through the genus Grammatorcynus, and to the Plccostci 

 in the form of the body, osteological structures etc. through the genera Sarda 

 and Gymnosarda. This family comprises the Scombrinae, Acanthocybinae, and 

 Sardinae of Starks. 



Key to the .Tajjanese g.neia of the Cyliiidae. 



Body elongated, teeth in jaws trenchant, yomeriue teeth present. 



Gill-rakers none, gill-!amellae reticulated, inlerinuscular banes inserted on 



ribs Acakthoc'jhium. 



Gill-rakers present, gill-lamellae not reticulated, intermuscular boues in- 

 serted on respective vertebrae. 



Two lateral lines ou each side of the body Grammatorcifnua. 



Only one lateral line on each side of the body Cyhium. 



Bjdy plump, teeth in jaws with rounded edges, vomerine leeth absent. 



liody i:r>vered entirely with small scales, tongiie toothless Sarda. 



Body naked outside of the corselet, tongue covered with villoui teeth, pala- 

 tines are also toothed (Jymnosarda. 



(lenus Acanthocybium Gill. 



Aoanthccybium, (Hll. ]S(.'2; Liitkcii, 18);); Jordan & Evermnnn, 189G. 



