91 



XXV~SCOMBRIDffi. 



SCOMBER, Artedi. 



1— S. scombrus. 



Common Mackerel 



This importunt lisli has a cylindrical, tapering form.. 

 Scales very minute. Eyes large. With longitudinal spuri- 

 ous fins on the sides of "the tail, and a low, spine before the 

 first ray of the anal fin. Colors exceedingly vivid; dark steel- 

 l)lue above, becoming lighter on the sides, beneath silvery 

 white; with 24 to 30 vertical, deep-blue half-bands, and a 

 Idack blotch at the base of the pectorals and ventrals.. 

 Length, 16 to 18 inches. 



Fin-rays:— D. 13, 10— VI, P. IT; V. G; A. 12— V, C. 15.. 



S. scomhrus, L. tSyst. I, p. 492. 



>S'. vernalls, Mitch. Trans. Lit. & PhiL Soc. New York, I, 

 423; Cuv. & VaL VIII, p. 48; Storer, Fishes, Massach. p. 

 41; DeKay, New York Fanua, Fishes, p. 101; pl..l2;4ig. 34. 



Much less commjn than formerly in the salt-water of 

 Chesaj)eake Bay not remote from the Ocean. 



Acad. Coll. 



2— S. coliasc 



Body cylindrical, robust. Head considerably flattened 

 above; eyes hirge. The first dorsal fin transparent; five 

 dorsal finlets. Above light green, with numerous undulat- 

 ing, darker green lines passing down the sides, just crossing 

 the lateral line. Beneath dull bluish, with large, round or 

 oval, brown blotches distributed irregularly on the sides. 

 Abdomen light-colored. Length, 1 to 2 feet. 



Fin-rays:— D. 9, 12— V; P. 19; V. 5; A. 1,12— V; C. IT. 



>S'. coUas, L. CIm. I, p. 1329; Lacep. IV, pp. 39, 40; Cuv. 

 & Val. VIII, p. 39; pi. 209; Storer, Fishes of Massach. p.. 

 45; DeKay, New York Fauna, Fishes, p. 104; pi. 11; fig. 33. . 



Enters the Chesapeake Bay from the ocean, but must be^ 

 'juitc uncommon in Maryland waters. 



