~? 
FAMILY SCOMBRIDZ. 12 
GENUS VOMER. Cuvier. 
Body compressed as in the preceding. No filaments or prolongations of the fins. Profile 
nearly vertical. 
THE BLUNT-NOSED SHINER. 
VomerR BROWN, © chun fatter 
PLATE XXV. FIG. 78.— (STATE COLLECTION.) 
Zeus setapinnis, Bristly Dory. Mrrcn. Lit. and Phil. Soc. Vol. 1, p. 384, pl. 1, fig. 9. 
Vomer de Brown, V. brownii. Cuv. et Vat. Hist. des Poiss. Vol. 9, p. 237. 
Characteristics. Lustrous silvery. Ventrals very small. All the vertical rays short. Length 
8 inches. 
Description. Body strongly compressed. Tail small, cylindrical. Back carinate, hori- 
zontal, abruptly descending above the eye, and forming a concave profile. Upper part of the 
body above the lateral line, and a short distance beneath is destitute of scales. ‘The sides 
beneath with small orbicular scales, becoming larger on the tail. Lateral line abruptly curved 
to a point opposite the ninth ray of the second dorsal, where it goes off straight. On the sides 
of the tail, it is covered with slightly elevated plates. Eyes large, and nearly on a line with 
the base of the pectoral fins. Nostrils double, oval, approximate, and near the edge of the 
forehead. Mouth slightly protractile ; lower jaw longest. Teeth to be felt only on the jaws, 
and a narrow transverse rough band on the fore part of the vomer. Tongue pointed, black 
at the tip, with a rough band on its centre. Branchial rays seven. 
The first dorsal composed of short and apparently isolated rays, so deeply hidden in a 
groove as to be scarcely visible. When elevated, there are found to be seven unequal spines, 
connected together by a very thin membrane. The second dorsal commences above the third 
ray of the anal; the second and third longest ; the first short, spinous: it is coterminal with 
the anal, and consists of one short spine and twenty-two branched rays. ‘The pectoral fins 
long, falciform, and composed of one short and spinous, and eighteen articulated rays ; the 
fifth ray longest, and reaches to the thirteenth ray of the second dorsal. Ventrals beneath 
the pectorals, not quite two-tenths of an inch long, and composed of one spinous and three 
other rays. There are two concealed spines before the anal fin, but these I have occasionally 
found wanting. Anal fin with one spinous, and eighteen short subequal branched rays. 
Caudal deeply forked. Air-bladder very large, with two horns behind. Stomach cylindrical, 
with numerous ceca. 
Color. The whole body of a lustrous silvery tint, passing into leaden on the back. Inides 
yellow. Membrane of the second dorsal minutely punctate with black, tinged at its base 
with light yellow. Pectorals olive-green, verging to dusky. 
