70 



SCANDINAVIAN FISHES. 



validit^• where the liist(n'v of development conjoins an 

 obtuse-iinned form with the sharp-finned types. An- 

 other character ^vhich generally holds good, is the nar- 

 row and round peduncle of the caudal fin. The sin- 

 gularly characteristic bars on the sides of the peduncle 

 which occur in many forms of the Scombromorph series, 

 may also serve on occasion as clues to their distinction 

 from the series of the Percomorph families. Thus, for 

 example, one species of the genus Brama" possesses 

 such bars on its tail indicating the I'ight i)lace of the 

 genus and the family, Avhile the other forms of the 

 Bramidce are without it. 



With the exception of tlie Zenldce and Capridce 

 and the addition of Gill's Acroniiridce, the series of 

 the Mackerel families, as defined here, corresponds to 

 the Scomhroidce of Gill*. Gunther combined this se- 

 ries with that of the Cottoid families into a group 

 wliich he named Cotto-Scombriformes, with the remark 

 that the true Cottoid genera exhibit forms of transition 

 to the Mackerel type''. It is certainly true that this 

 opinion finds support in the known changes of deve- 

 lopment, in the Sword-fishes, for example, where the 

 armoured head of the young specimens reminds us of 

 the Trigloid type, or in the diminution of the size of 

 the ventral fins which is very common among the 

 Scomhroinorphi and gives the juvenile forms a close 

 resemblance to the aforesaid type in this respect too. 

 But the Anomalopterous characters Ave have given 



above, sharplv divide the Cottoid type from the Mac- 

 kerels. 



Of the Scombromorph families the Scandinavian 

 Fauna possesses 5, whicli may be distinguished in the 

 following manner: 



I: Soft rays of the veBtral fins 5 at most. Inter- 

 maxillaries and mandible, at least, armed with 

 teeth in adult specimens, though these teeth 

 may disappear in extreme old age. 

 A: Scales of the body in Ganoid manner con- 

 nected by processes from their basal part. 

 liateral line scarcely visible; its scales hardly 

 distinguishable from the other scales of the 



bod v.- - --- - Bramhhv. 



B: Scales of the body separate from eacli other, 

 thin and cycloid, where they exist. Lateral 

 line distinct. 



1 : Before or at the beginning of the anal 

 fin two spinous rays, which may, however, 

 become indistinct or even disappear with 

 age. Longitudinal ridges of the bony 

 skull high and long; occipital ridge con- 

 tinued on the surface of the coalescent 



frontal bones _ -.. Cmangidci'. 



2: No spinous rays or only one before or at 

 the beoinning of the anal fin, Longi- 

 tudinal ridges of the bony skull com- 

 paratively low and short; frontal bones 

 without central ridge. 

 a: Upper and lower jaws about equally 



projecting _.. Scombridce. 



b: Upper jaw prolonged projecting "like 



a sword" over the point of the lowerjaw Xiphiidcf. 

 II: Soft rays of the ventral fins more than 5. Jaws 



without teeth, in adult specimens Lainprida:. 



fam. bramidj?:. 



Form of the hodij huih or elongated, strongly compressed. Eyes large or of average si^e. Of the external hones of 

 the head only the jtreoperctilum, and this only in youth., dentated at the margin. Scales large or middle-sized, 

 cycloid, high on the sides of the body (especially during youth), above and below continued by processes, ivhich in 

 certain j)arts of the sides at least, serve to connect the rows of scales. Spinous-rayed part of the dorsal and anal 

 fins little developed. Supporting rays of the caudal simple and spinous. Simple, pointed teeth, arranged in a card, 

 on the intermaxillaries and loiver jaw at least. Ventral fns thoracic (sometimes jugular) n-ith one spinous ray 

 and 5 soft''. Branchiostegal rays 7 . Branched rays in the caudal fin 14 at least (!^). 



Following Gill's example' we make the genera 

 l*teraclis, Pterycombus and Brama into a family 



distinct from the family Coryphcenidce as formed 

 by Lowe' and afterwards adopted by Gunther''. 



" Brama princeps (from Madoira), Johnson, Proc. Zool. Soc. 18G3, p. 37; = (V) Br. loiiijipiiinis (sec below). 

 '' Arranrj. Fam. Fish., Smith's Misc. Coll., No. 247, 



' "The true Cottoide gradually pass into the Scombroids proper": Vat. Brit. .V»6'., Fish., vol. Ill, App., p. VI. No less clear, how- 

 ever, is the systematic transition, through the Squamipinnes, between the families of the Scombromorph and Percomorph groups. 

 '' PteracV.i, however, is abnormal in this respect and has its ventral fins reduced even in the number of rays. 

 ' 1. c. Cf. Jordan et Gilbert, Syn. N. Am. Fish., Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. It?, p, 455, 

 ^ Fishes of Madeira, Introd,, p, XII, 

 " Andr. Garr. Fische der Stidsee, p. 14G: ,Studi/ of Fishes, p. 452; Handh. IchthyoL. p. 319. 



