PISCES. 161 



Elacate Cuv. (Characters of the preceding genus, but no spines 

 in front of anal fin. Head elongate, depressed.) 



Sp. Elacate atlantica Cuv., Scomber niger Bloch, Jchth. Tab. 337, Cuv. 

 et Valenc, Pom. viii. PI. 233, &c. 



Lucoscomhriis mihi [Gemjyylus and Tliyrsites Cuv.). Body 

 elongate, compressed, with scales none or conspicuous only at the end 

 of tail and along the lateral line. Teeth compressed, acute, unequal, 

 in a single row in jaws, the middle of upper jaw much larger than 

 the rest. Branchiostegous membrane with seven rays. Head elon- 

 gate, depressed above; lower jaw produced beyond upper. Ventral 

 fins thoracic. Dorsal fins two contiguous, and several free finlets 

 behind the second. 



Gempylus Cuv. Vomer and palate-hones edentulous. Ventral 

 fins very small. 



Sp. Lucoscomhrus serpens, Scomber serpens Solandek ; — Lucoscombrus coluber, 

 Gempylus coluber Cuv. et Val. Poiss. viii. PI. 221, &c. 



Gempylus approaches Lepidopus by its much elongated body. 



Thyrsites Cuv. Teeth in vomer and palate-bones few, in a single 

 row, conical. Ventral fins small or moderate. 



Sp. Lucoscombrus atmi, Scomber aiun Lac, Thyrsites atun Cuv., Cuv. et 

 Val. Poiss. vni. PI. 219, Cuv. R. Ani., 6d. ill., Poiss. PI. 49, fig, i ; 

 a fish from the sea around South Africa, very common at the Cape of 

 Good Hope, and known to the Dutch colonists as a palatable and very 

 cheap food under the name of Snoel: (Pike). Tliis species attains a length 

 of more than 3'. 



Ruvettus Cocco, Eovefiis Canteaine. Body elongate, com- 

 pressed. Teeth conical, compressed, in a single row in both jaws; 

 teeth few, incurved in vomer and palate-bones. Branchiostegous 

 membrane witli seven rays. Small biaculeate horny shields dis- 

 persed in regular rows throughout the body; scales very small. 

 First dorsal fin long, depressed, second higher, almost contiguous 

 to the former. A single false finlet behind the second dorsal fin, 

 opposite to a similar accessory anal fin. 



Sp. Ruvettus pretiosus Cocco, Rovetus Temminckii Cantraine, Bonap. Faun. 

 Ital., Pisces, Tab. 128, Memoir, tie I'Acad. de Bruxelles, Tom. x. 1835. 

 This fish attains a length of from 4' to 5', and is found in the Mediterranean 

 Sea at Sicily and Malta. 



Cyhium Cuv. Body compressed, oval. Teeth in jaws in a 

 single row, triangular, often large ; teeth in palate small. Branchi- 

 VOL. II. 11 



