nscES. 163 



Sp. Auxis vulyaris, Cuv., Scomber hisus Rafin., Scomber Rochei Risso, 

 Rafinesqoe Caratteri, &c. Tab. ii. fig. i, Cuv. et Valenc. Poiss. viii. 

 PI. 216, in the Mediterranean Sea; — Auxis taso Cuv., Scomber taso CoM- 

 MERSON, New Guinea. 



Scomber Cuv. Scales of whole body small, almost equal. Tail 

 with two cutaneous folds ou each side at the base of caudal fin, 

 without a middle keel. 



Sp. Scomber scomher'L., Block Ichth. Tab. 54; Slcandinaviens Fiskar, PI. 29; 

 the mackerel; five false finlets [pinncB accessonce) on the back, and five 

 or four of the same behind the anal fin ; the scales are very small, almost 

 invisible to the naked eye ; this fish may attain a length of 2', but is seldom 

 longer than 1 6". The mackerel is very common in the Mediterranean Sea, 

 and occurs also in the Atlantic Ocean as far as 300 N.L. ; also in the North 

 Sea, perhaps to 61° N.L. ; on the Dutch coast, especially in the middle of 

 summer, from June to August. The common mackerel has no swimming- 

 bladder, which however is present in other very similar species from 

 the Mediterranean, Scomber colias Gm., Cdv., and Scomber pneumatophoi-us 

 La Eoche. 



B. Lateral line carinate, marked by acuUate shields or largei' scales. 



Caranx (Commers., Lac. in part) Cuv. Bodj depressed. 

 Lateral line loricate, or armed with spines throngliout its whole ex- 

 tent or in posterior part. Teeth in jaws small, conical, crowded, 

 sometimes larger in front row, in some none. Teeth in vomer and 

 palate-bones very often small, acute, few. Branch iostegoiis mem- 

 brane with seven rays. Pharyngeal teeth globose. Ventral fins 

 thoracic. Dorsal fins two; an incmnbent spine, pointing forwards 

 in front of first fin, the second sometimes resolved into false fins. 

 Two free spines in fr-ont of anal fin. Ventral fins thoracic. 



Sp. Caranx trachurus Lac, Scomber (rachurus Block, IcJiih. Tab. 56, Gov. 

 et Val. Poiss. IX. Tab. 246 ; the scad, or horse-maclcerel ; teeth very small ; 

 second dorsal fin undivided ; the shields along the lateral line begin close 

 behind the head. This fish usually becomes i' long, although occasionally 

 larger specimens of 16" or more are captured. It is met with in the Medi- 

 terranean Sea, the North Sea, and in the Atlantic Ocean as far as the Cape 

 of Good Hope, and even in the Indian Sea. There are however different 

 varieties, or perhaps species, which have been united under the same name. 

 In the other species of this numerous genus the lateral line is armed 

 with shields in its hindmost part only. In some, of which CuviER formed 

 the sub-genus Citula, the first soft ray of the second dorsal and of the anal 

 fins is produced into a long filament. Sp. Caranx citxda Cuv., Caranx 

 cirrhostis Ehrenb., Cuv. et Val. Poiss. ix. PI. 250. 



Vomer Cuv. {Zeus L. in part). Body compressed, high. Head 

 compressed, declivous. Scales very small or inconspicuous, larger 



11—2 



