84 



SCRIBBLED MACKAREL. 



Scomber scriptus, Nobis. 



This species is not yet recognised in science, but I possess 

 notes of three examples, which, in the course of years, have 

 come into my possession; one of which was taken with a line, 

 and the others in drift-nets, at a good distance from land. 

 The fishermen explained to me that it was because their 

 attention was excited by the distinguished beauty of these 

 fishes, that they were set aside from the ordinary Mackarel 

 taken with them, and brought to me for inspection. 



The length of the specimen selected for description was 

 thirteen inches and a half; round and plump, with the general 

 proportions much as in the Common Mackarel; but there was 

 a decided difference in some of the details, — as, that the head 

 rises more especially in front of the eye, and again more 

 abruptly from a well-defined line at the junction of the head 

 and body, at which part the scales were more distinct, the 

 rising slope continuing to the origin of the dorsal fin. Lateral 

 line without those zigzags often seen in the Common Mackarel, 

 and remarkable in the Dotted Mackarel. The body was also 

 proportionally more slender as it approached the tail, and the 

 fork of the caudal fin more slender and pointed. Pectoral fin 

 more pointed. Carinations at the root of the tail further 

 asunder, and in one instance noted as being absent. I possess 

 a note of one example which possessed six finlets above and 

 below: the specimen from which our figure is taken was only 

 furnished with five. The first dorsal fin was lofty, the second 

 ray the longest, its length an inch and six eighths; the dis- 

 tance between this fin and the second dorsal two inches and 

 six eighths. A spine in front of the anal fin. 



