FAMILY SCOMBRIDZ — SCOMBER. 101 
I have not seen this species, and am indebted to Cuvier for the description and figure. It 
appears along our southern shores, and I have thought that it would not be unacceptable to 
illustrate a genus of which specimens may yet be found on the coast of New-York. 
The eighth family of Pharyngiens labyrinthiformes, or ANABASSID®, has no representative 
on our coast. 
FAMILY IX. SCOMBRID/:. 
Vertical fins without scales. No spines nor denticulations on the opercle or preopercle. 
Scales small, entire. 
Oss. This family embraces fifty-one genera, which at present include over four hundred 
species. Among all the families of fishes, this is one of the most useful to man. 
GENUS SCOMBER. Cuvier. 
Dorsal fins two, widely separated. Finlets behind the dorsal and anal fins. Sides of the tail 
raised into two small cutaneous crests. Scales uniformly small. 
THE SPRING MACKEREL. 
PLATE XII. FIG. 34. 
Scomber scomber? Scuarrr, Beobacht. Vol. 8. p. 168. 
Spring Mackerel, 8. vernalis. Mrrcen. Tr, Lit. and Phil. Soc. Vol. 1, p, 423. 
La Maquereau printanier. Cuv. et Vat. Hist des Poiss. Vol. 8, p. 48. 
Spring Mackerel, S. id. Storer, Report on Fishes of Mass. p. 41. 
Characteristics. With a dark spot at the base of the pectoral and ventral fins. Length 16 - 18 
inches. 
Description. Body fusiform, cylindrical, its greatest depth near the ultimate rays of the 
first dorsal. Scales very minute. Lateral line follows the dorsal outline, but is slightly irre- 
gular in its course, and becomes nearly effaced towards the tail. Eyes large; a nictitating 
membrane, from the anterior and posterior part of the orbits, partially covers the eye. 
Nostrils single, nearly equidistant between the eyes and the end of the nose. Lower margin 
of the preopercle with a series of mucous pores. About fifty-five small recurved teeth on 
each side of the lower jaw; the anterior space edentate. On each intermaxillary there are 
about forty very minute teeth, nearly concealed by a membrane. Tongue pointed, distinct 
and black. There are slight asperities on the vomer, and very long, slender and flexible teeth 
on the pharyngeals. Branchial rays delicate. Gill arches with two series of alternate tuber- 
cles ; the first arch with long pectinated processes. 
The first dorsal rises over the ventrals, longer than high, and contains thirteen simple and 
slender rays; the first somewhat shorter than the second, which is longest ; thence gradually 
