123 

 SCOMBERESOX, Lacep. 



S. scuteliatus. 



Northern Bill-Fish. 



Body elongated, compressed, gradually lessening in depth 

 back of the anus. Head^ including the jaws, equal to one- 

 fourth the length of body; gill-covers large, smooth; the 

 lower jaw the lenger. Structure of jaws as in the Gar-Fish. 

 Belly with a keel-like edge. The posterior portions of the 

 dorsal and anal fins are divided, forming finlets, as in the 

 Mackerel. From the lower edge of the opercle, extending to 

 the fourth anal finlet, forming the lateral boundaries of the 

 abdomen, are two yellowish lines, formed by a continued 

 series of scales. Back olive-green; beneath it a strongly- 

 marked silvery band, half an inch wide, divided in its centre 

 by a narrow line of the same color as the back; abdomen and 

 gill-covers satiny. Dorsal fin and its finlets greenish; a 

 dark green spot at base of the pecorals, above. Length, 10 

 to 12 inches. 



Fin-ravs:— D. 10. V or VI; P. 14; V. 6; A. 12. V or VI; 

 C. 20. 



S. scuteUatuni, Lesueur, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. II, 

 1821, p. 132. 



— scuteliatus, Cuv. & Val. XVIII, p. 177. 

 Met vfith, but only very rarely, near the entrance to Chesa- 

 peake Ba}'. 



XLIII-ESOCroE. 



ESOX, (Artcdi) Cuv. 



1— E. umbrosus. 



Body someAvhat cylindrical; the outline of the back moder 

 ately straight. Head contained four times in the total length. 

 Color more or less dull leaden, faintly, if at all, banded. 

 Operculum and cheeks entirely covered with scales. 



Fin-rays:— D. 13; V. 12; A. 12. 



E. umbrosus, Kirtland, Cleveland Annals Science, 1854, p. 

 79; Cope. Proceed. Acad. X. S. Philad. 1865, p. 79. 



The only known locality for this fish within the limits of 

 the State of Maryland, is the Susquehanna Eiver, on the 

 boundary of Harford county. How far it contributes to the 

 food of the inhabitants of that region has not yet been re- 

 ported, no doubt it shares with the Fall-fish in adding to the 



