EDIBLE FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 97 



Genus II.— PELAMYS. 



Pelamys, Cuv. & Val. Hist. Nat. Poiss. viii, p. 149, 1831. 



Eranchiostigals seven : pseudobranchijie present. Body elongate-oblong. 

 Cleft of mouth deep. Teeth in the jaws of moderate strength : small teeth 

 present or absent on the vomer, present on the palatine bones. Two dorsal 

 tins, the first formed of rather feeble spines, and reaching almost to the base 

 of the second dorsal, behind which and the anal are from sis to nine finlets. 

 Scales minute : enlarged and forming a corselet on the anterior part of the 

 body. A longitudinal keel on each side of the tail. Airbladder absent. 

 Pyloric appendage dendritical. 



Geographical distrllution. — Temperate and tropical seas. 



PELAMYS CHILENSIS. 



Pelamys chilensis, Cuv. & Val. Hist. Nat. Poiss. viii. p. 163 ; Gray, Hist. 



Chile, Zool. ii. p. 224 ; Gnth. Catal Fishii. p. 368 ; Steindachn. SB. Ak. 



Wien, Ivii. p. 353 ; Day, Eish. Ind. p. 253, pi. Ivi. f. 1. 

 Felami/s orientalis, Schleg. Faun. Japon. Poiss. p. 69, pi. Hi. ; Gruth. Catal. 



Fish. ii. p. 368. 

 Pelami/s australis, Maeleay Catal. Austr. Fish. i. p. 192. 

 Felamxjs sclilegeli, McCoy, Prodr. Zool. Vict. dec. xvi. pi. 155. 



Horse-Mackerel. 



Plate XXVI. 



B. vii. D. 18-19. 2-3/12-13. + vii-viii. A. 3-4/12-13. +vi. V. 1/5. P. 25-27. 



C. 24. Vert. 23/22. 



Length of head 4-00-4-20, of caudal fin 5-75-6-00, height of body 4-50- 

 4'80 in the total length. Eye with a very narrow adipose lid, its diameter 

 520-5"40 \i\ the length of the head, 1'75 in. the length of the snout, 

 which is conical and slightly depressed, and 1"40 in the convex inter- 

 orbital space. Upper jaw very slightly the longer. Cleft of mouth deep- 

 and almost horizontal; maxilla slightly expanded behind, reaching to beneath 

 the posterior margin of the orbit. A single row of distant, incurved teeth 

 in the jaws increasing in size posteriorly, fifteen to twenty in number in the 

 upper jaw, ten to thirteen in the lower ; lower jaw with one, sometimes 

 two, pair of canines behind the symphysis, and inside of the outer row, 

 directed inwards and backwards ; a small circular patch of stout teeth, 

 curving un all directions on the head of the vomer ; these teeth are 

 decideous, but two or three are always present. A short row of recurved 

 teeth on the palatines. Dorsal spines weak, the second the longest, 

 three sevenths of the length of the head, gradually decreasing in length 

 from thence the posterior ones being very short, and the last very 

 close to the origin of the rayed dorsal ; the latter fin high in front, 

 its height about two thirds of the length of its base : the anal com- 

 mences beneath the last dorsal ray or first finlet, and is similar to the rayed 

 dorsal, its height, however, is equal to the length of its base : ventrals short, 

 their length from 4"50-4'75 in the distance between their origin and the 

 vent, and 3 10-3'30 in the length of the head : pectorals short and falcate, 

 extending backwards to beneath the ninth dorsal spine, from 9'00-9'60 in 

 the total length, and 2"15-2 33 in the length of the head : caudal with pointed 

 lobes ; posterior portion of caudal pedicle strongly depressed, and bearing a 



