236 REPORT OF NEW. JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 
m. Anal spines I or fI, very rarely obsolete. PERCIDA 
mm. Anal spines III or more, never II or I. 
n. Vomer and palatines usually with teeth. 
o. Anal shorter than dorsal; head not covered every- 
where with rough scales. SERRANIDE 
oo. Anal scarcely shorter than dorsal and similar; 
head and body everywhere covered with rough 
scales. PRIACANTHIDA 
nn. Vomer without teeth, body deep, compressed. 
‘LOBOTIDAS 
kk. Maxillary slipping for most its length under edge of preorbital, 
which forms a more or less distinct sheath; accessory ventral 
scale present; opercle without spines. 
p. Anal spines III. 
gq. Mouth moderately protractile. 
ry, Vomer with teeth. - LUTANIDE 
rr. Vomer without teeth. 
s. Lateral teeth not molar. 
H#MULIDE 
ss. Lateral teeth molar. SPARIDA 
qq. Mouth exceedingly protractile. CGERRIDZ 
pp. Anal spines II, I or absent. 
t. Premaxillaries without blunt 
posterior canine. 
u. A pair of long mandibular 
barbels. MULLID 
uu. No mandibular barbels. 
SCILEZ NID 
tt. Premaxillaries usually with a 
blunt posterior canine. 
LATILIDA 
Family SCOMBRIDE. 
The Mackerels. 
Body elongate, fusiform, not much compressed. Caudal 
peduncle extremely slender, keeled. Head subconic, pointed an- 
teriorly. Mouth rather large, with lateral cleft. Premaxillary 
not protractile. Maxillary without supplemental bone. Jaws 
with sharp teeth, large or small. Vomer and palatines toothed or 
not. Preopercle entire. Opercle unarmed. In very young pre-. 
opercle armed with radiating spines, which are later absorbed and 
lost. Gill-openings very wide, membranes not united, free from 
isthmus. Gills 4, a slit behind fourth. Gill-rakers usually long. 
