FISHES OK NEW ZEALAND. 53 



SCOMBRESOX. 



Both jdivs 2^^olo7i(jed into a long slender beak, each with a sei-ies of 

 extremely minute teeth ; body elongate, compressed, slender ; scales 

 deciduous ; a number of detached finlets behind the anal and dorsal fins ; 

 gill openings very wide. 



Atlantic, Chili, Japan. 



The jaws are not produced in very young fishes, and during gi-owth 

 the lower jaw is much in advance of the U2)per. 



85. SCOMBRESOX FORSTERI. 0. and V. CM. 



Skipper. 



S.forsteri, Giinth., VI., 258. Belone, Sp. Cat. Col. Mus. 

 D. 10 I V. ; A. 11 I VII. ; P. 15 ; V. 6. 

 Length equal to four and a half times that of the head, or ten 

 times the height of the body ; length of the head about one and two- 

 fifths that of the snout ; lower jaw longer ; base of ventrals half way 

 between the root of the caudal and the anterior margin of the eye ; 

 upper pectoral ray very broad. 



Above shining plumbous blue, below silvery white. 



A single specimen, 12 inches long, is in the Museum, presented by 

 H. Travers, Esq. 



Hemiramphus. 



The lower jaw prolonged into a long slender beak, the upper 

 short, both with a narrow band of minute teeth ; body elono-ate, 

 slender ; no finlets ; gill openings very wide. 



Seas in and near the Tropics. 



Very young specimens have not the lower jaw prolonged. 



86. HEMIRAMPHUS INTERMEDIUS. Cant. CM. 



Gar Fish. 

 H. intermedmti, Giinth., VI., 2 GO. 

 D. 15-17; A. 18-20; P. 11. 

 LenCxTH three times that of the head, or five and three-fifths the 

 projection of the lower jaw beyond the ui)per ; upper jaw rather longer 

 than broad ; base of the ventral fin situated half way between the base 

 of the caudal and that of the pectoral ; pectoial short ; caudal 

 emareinate. 



