146 history of the fishes of massachusetts. 



Cybium maculatum, Cuv. 



The Spotted Mackerel. 



(Plate XIII. Fig. 1.) 



Scomber maculatus, Spanish macherd, Mitchill, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. of N. Y , i. p. 426, pi. 6, fig. 8. 

 Le Taassard tacliete (Ci/bium maculatum, Ccv., Scomber maculatus, MiTCii), Cnv. ct Val., viii. p. 181. 

 Cybium maculatum. Spotted Mackerel, Stoker, Bost Journ. Nat. Hist., iv. p. 179. 



" " Atkes, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist., iv. p. 261. 



" " Spotted Cybium, Dekay, Report, p. 108, pi. 7.3, fig. 232. 



" " Stobeb, Mem. Amer. Acad., New Series, ii. 344. 



" " Stoeee, Synopsis, p. 92. 



Color. The top of the head and the upper part of the sides of the body are of a dark 

 leaden color; the sides are lighter; the jaws, opercula, and abdomen are of a beautiful 

 clear white, presenting a satin-like appearance ; the dorsal ridge throughout its whole 

 extent is of a beautiful dark-green color ; twenty or more circular or oblong spots, situ- 

 ated above and beneath the lateral line, ornament its sides ; the most anterior of these 

 spots is beneath the pectoral fins ; the largest number of the spots is anterior to the dor- 

 sal fin. The membrane connecting the first eight rays of the dorsal fin is black ; the 

 second dorsal fin is of a lead-color ; the })ectorals are black beneath, light above ; the 

 ventrals are white. 



Description. In its figure it resembles the S. colias. Its greatest depth, measured 

 from the origin of the first dorsal fin, is equal to nearly one fourth its entire length. 



The length of the head is equal to about one seventh the entire fish, and terminates 

 anteriorly in a sharp point. The eyes are circular. The anterior nostril is the smaller, 

 and is semicircular ; the posterior nostril, which is situated directly in front of the centre 

 of the eye, is a transverse slit. The upper jaw terminates in a point; the prominent tip 

 of the lower jaw projects slightly beyond the upper : both of the jaws are furnished with 

 a single row of prominent, sharp, somewhat conical teeth ; those situated towards the 

 angle of the jaws are the largest. 



The lateral line, which is raised above the general surface of the fish, arises half an 

 inch above the origin of the pectoral fins, and, in the language of Mitchill, " does not 

 travel straight, but crooks and meanders along prettily towards the tail." 



The first dorsal fin, when unexpanded, shuts almost completely into a groove at its 

 base ; its anterior portion is much higher than the posterior ; the second and third rays 

 are the highest ; all the rays project beyond their connecting membrane, and are fur- 

 nished with delicate filaments. 



The second dorsal fin is triangular, emarginated posteriorly ; its first two rays are 

 simple ; posterior to this fin are eight or nine finlets, of the same color as the fin. 



