THE MACKEREL. 211 



Description. — From a specimen fifteen inches in length. Body fu- 

 siform ; sides a little compressed ; slender and slightly angular towards 

 the tail. Colour of the back of a fine green varied with blue, mark- 

 ed with dark undulated lines placed vertically throughout its length ; 

 sides and belly silvery- white ; occasionally the back is of a dark 

 green, without marks of any description. Head sharp ; nose point- 

 ed ; first dorsal fin commencing behind the base of the pectorals, of 

 a triangular form ; the second ray the longest ; the remainder gra- 

 dually decreasing ; second dorsal commencing a little in advance 

 of the anal ; not half the size of the first ; its length twice its 

 height ; between it and the caudal fin are five spurious finlets, placed 

 at equal distances from each other ; anal fin corresponding to the se- 

 cond dorsal, with the same number of finlets behind it ; tail deeply 

 forked ; ventral fins situated a little behind the base of the pec- 

 torals. Teeth small and sharp, placed in a single row in each jaw, 

 as well on each side of the vomer ; operculum rather small ; round- 

 ed at its upper and posterior border ; extending to a point below, 

 at its junction with the posterior margin of the preoperculum ; 

 suboperculum large ; preoperculum much produced ; lateral line 

 commencing over the base of the pectorals, taking a slight curve at 

 its origin, from thence passing nearly in a straight line to the base 

 of the tail ; pectoral and ventral fins small, nearly of equal form and 

 size ; first dorsal fin when unexpanded, scarcely perceptible, placed 

 in a groove ; scales small, entire. On each side of the base of the 

 tail, are two small cutaneous crests giving a square form to that part. 

 Number of fin rays — 

 1st D. 12 ; 2d D. 12 ; P. 18 ; V. 6 ; A. 12 ; C. 17 ; Branchial rays 7. 



The Mackerel, although taken in the Firth of Forth with 

 lines, in sufficient numbers to supply the different markets 

 in the neighbourhood, cannot be considered plentiful when 

 compared with the vast quantity caught on the English 

 coast at various periods of the year. They are first ob- 

 served in the Firth of Forth about the beginning of June, 

 confining themselves for the first month principally to the 

 neighbourhood of the Bass. In July they are taken off 

 Prestonpans, b.ut more frequently at Largo, Buckhaven, 

 and Wemyss on the opposite coast. A few straggling in- 

 dividualp have occasionally been found as high up the 



