SCOMBER. 293 



FAMILY V. SCOMBEROIDES. 



The scales in this family are almost impercep- 

 tible, on account of their smallness. Usually, the 

 adipose portion of the dorsal and anal fins are 

 thickened by the scales, anteriorly ; the mem- 

 brane of the rays behind is slender, and sometimes 

 wanting in some genera. Cuvier divided the fam- 

 ily into four tribes, characterised by the structure, 

 rather than the position of the dorsal fins. 



Chub-Mackerel, — Scomber Grex. This is 

 the same fish called thimble-eyed and bull-eyed 

 mackerel, to the south of Cape Cod; to the 

 north of that point of land, for some reason which 

 we cannot explain, it rarely makes its appearance, 

 though abounding at New York. By a round, 

 gently tapering body, waving lateral line, a dark 

 green color on the dorsal surface, and a va- 

 riegated, changeable color on the sides, when first 

 caught, like feathers on a pigeon's breast, it may 

 always be known. 



In the Literary Transactions before referred to, 

 we find that in the years 1781 and J 813, all the 

 bays, rivers, creeks and coves were crowded with 

 this species, which has, since those memorable 

 periods, been comparatively scarce. 



In the branchial membrane are five, pectoral 



