75 



PAKATK ACTUS, Gill. 

 P. pisquetos. 



Yellow Crevalle. 



This fish has an elongated, compressed body. The scales 

 are small, caducous, concentrically striate, and extend over 

 the suborbitals. The lateral line is bent downwards below 

 the origin of the second dorsal ; its plates (about 46) are well 

 developed along all the straight portion. The height of the 

 body is 3.^ — 3^ of the total length ; the length of the head 4|, 

 and nearly equal to that of the pectoral. Lower jaw longest, 

 ■with a single series of minute teeth ; the teeth in the upper 

 jaw are in a villiform band. The first dorsal fin is trian- 

 gular, and in advance of it is a short recumbent spine. The 

 second dorsal fin has a fleshy prolongation, covering a 

 part of the base of more than half of the anterior rays ; 

 the first ray is very short and spinous ; the third, fourth 

 and fifth longer than the others, and from these the rays ra- 

 pidly diminish, becoming subequal for the remainder of the 

 fin. The pectorals are placed slightly before the ventrals, are 

 long and falcate. Ventrals in a deep cavity anterior to the 

 commencement of the first dorsal fin. Anterior to the anal 

 fin are two long spines concealed in a furrow. The first 

 three or four rays are long; the remainder short, subequal. 

 Caudal fin deeply furcate, with two carinse or ridges on each 

 side, embracing the spinous lateral plates of the tail; its 

 lobes scaly. Deep golden green and blue above, which be- 

 comes more lustrous on the gill covers. Sides lustrous 

 yellow, with green reflections. A small black spot — often 

 wanting — on the edge of the opercles. Dorsals brown, tinged 

 ■with yellow, and translucent at their bases ; caudel fin olive- 

 brown at base, yellow in middle, tipped with blackish-brown. 

 Pectorals, ventrals and anal fin golden-yellow. Length, 6-8 

 inches. 



Fin-rays :— D. 8, 1, 24 ; P. 20 ; V. 1, 5 ; A. 2, 1, 20 ; C. 191- 

 Scomber chrysos, Mitch. Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc, New York, 



I. p. 124, 



