HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 81 



Just anterior to the origin of the anal fin are two very minute naked spines, the ante- 

 rior of which is the smaller. 



The anal fin is similar in form to the second dorsal, and terminates on a plane with it. 



The caudal fin is very deeply forked ; its rays are articulated, and its two extremities 

 terminate in sharp points. 



Length, about ten inches. 



The fin rays are as follows : — D. 1 - 7 - 38. P. 20. V. 6. A. 2 - 20. C. 15f . 



Remarks. I have seen but two specimens of this fish. Both of these were caught in 

 the harbor of Wellfleet, one in August, 1844, and the other in November, 1849. De- 

 kay speaks of it as not being uncommon in Long Island Sound. 



Massachusetts, Storer. New York, Mitchill, Dekay. 



GENUS XL TEMNODON, Cuv. 



The tail unarmed ; the little fins or the detached spines before the anal, as in Seriola. 

 The first dorsal fragile and low, the second and the anal covered with small scales ; 

 but the principal character consists in a row of separated, pointed, and cutting teeth in 

 each jaw ; behind the upper ones is a row of smaller teeth, and there are some fine as 

 velvet on the vomer, palate, and tongue. The operculum terminates in two points, and 

 there are seven branchiostegous rays. 



Temnodon saltator, Cuv. 

 The Blue-fish. 



(Plate XV. Fig. 1.) 



Sahatrix, Skipjack, Green-fish, Lin., Catesby's Carolina, 11. pi. 14. 

 Gasterosteus sahatrix, Lin., 12 edit., p. 491. 



" " Skipping Stickleback, Shaw, Gen. Zool., iv. p. 609. 



Pomatome Skip, Lacepede, iv- p. 436. 



Scomber plumbeus, Horse-Mackerel, Mitchill, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. of N. Y., I. p. 424, pi. 4, fig. 1. 

 Le Temnodon sauteur ( Temnodon saltator, Cuv. ; Perca sahatrix, Lin. ; Cheilodiptere poptucatithe, Lacep.), Cuv. et Val., 



IX. p. 225, pi. 260. 

 Temnodon saltator, Blue-fish, Stokek, Report, p. 57. 



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



" " " Dekat, Report, p. 130, pi. 26, fig. 81. 



" " " Stoker, Mem. Amer. Acad., New Series, II. p. 360. 



" " " " Synopsis, p. 108. 



Color. The upper part of the body is bluish ; a greenish tinge upon the sides and 

 abdomen. The irides are yellow. The pectorals are of a greenish-brown color, with a 

 deep black blotch at their base beneath. The second dorsal and caudal fin are likewise 

 of a greenish-brown color. The ventral and anal fins are of a bluish-white color. 



