94 EDIBLE nSHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



Scomber australasicus, Cuv. & Yal. Hisfc. Nat. Poiss. viii. p. 49 ; Grnth. Catal. 



Fish. ii. p. 359 ; Macleay, Catal. Austr. Fish. i. p. 190; Johnston, Proc. 



Kov. See. Tas.1882, pp. 8i,llS ; Slierrin, Handb. N.Z. Fish. p. 61. 

 ? Scomber capensis, Cuv. & Val. Hist. Nat. Poiss. viii. p. 56. 

 Scomber pneumatophorus major, Schleg. Faun. Japon. Poiss. p. 94, pi. xlvii, f. 1. 

 Scomber pneumatojyhorus minor, '&c\\\eg.'Ea,\\n. Zi\.])o\i.. Poiss. p. 94, nl. xlvii, 



? Scomber saba, Bleek. Japan, p. 405, and Verh. Batav. Gren. xxvi. p. 95. 

 Scomber janesaba, Bleek. Japan, p. 406, and Yerh. Batav. Gren. xxvi. p. 96 ; 



Gnth. Catal. Fish. ii. p. 359 ; Macleaj, Catal. xVustr. Fish. Suppl. p. 27. 

 Scomber tapeinocephalus, Bleek. Japan, p. 407, and Verh. Batav. G-eu. xxvi. 



p. 97, pi. vii. f. 2 ; Gnth. Catal. Fish ii. p. 861 ; Macleay, Catal. Anstr. 



P'ish. Suppl. p. 27. 

 Scomber antarctlcus, Casteln, Proc. Zool. Soc. Yict. 1872, i. p. 106. 



Mackerel. 



B. vii. D. 10-12. 1/11 + v-vi. A. 1. 1/11 + v-vi. Y. 1/5. P. 21. C. 19. 



Coec. pyl. num. Yert. 14/17. 



Length of head 4-00-4-25, of caudal fin 6-0O-7-0O, height of body 

 5-50-6"00 in the total length. Thickness of body from 1-25-1-40 in its 

 lieight. Diameter of eye 3'00-3"40 in the length of the head, equal in length 

 to the snout, and 1'46-1"60 in the interorbital space, which is flat; the 

 anterior adipose lid reaches slightly beyond the front margin of the pupil, 

 and inferiorly crosses over the posterior lid, which latter extends forward 

 over one fourth of the pupil. Upper surface of head flat, with a broad 

 median longitudinal groove; occiput with a short ridge. Jaws equal. Cleft 

 of mouth large and slightly oblique ; maxilla entirely covered by the 

 preorbital, extending to beneath the anterior third of the orbit. Posterior 

 limb of prcopercle oblique and convex. A single row of small curved teeth 

 on the jaws and palatines : two small patches on the vomer : tongue tooth- 

 less. The spinous dorsal commences above the posterior angle of the base 

 of the ventral ; the distance between its origin and the tip of the snout is 

 3 10-3'25 in the total length ; the spines are of moderate length, but weak ; 

 the second the longest, from 2 •00-2-50 in the length of the head ; second 

 dorsal low : the anal commences beneath the third or fourth dorsal ray, and is 

 preceded by a single short strong detached spine : ventral small, its length 

 from 3-00-3-50 in the distance between its origin and the vent, and 2-40-2-60 

 in the length of the head : pectoral short and pointed, its length from 

 2-00-2-20 in the same : caudal deeply forked, each lobe with a basal keel. 

 Scales minute, in fifteen to seventeen series between the lateral line and the 

 base of the first dorsal : largest on the pectoral region, where they form an 

 indistinct corselet : a row across the cheek. Lateral line gently curved. 

 Airbladder present, of moderate size 



Colors. — Upper surfaces bright green, frequently becoming dark blue after 

 •death, with numerous, irregular, wavy, transverse bars ; sides paler green, 

 with darker spots and short streaks ; lower surfaces pearly white, washed 

 with orange and pink, and ornamented with many more or less indistinct 

 dark gray blotches and spots : interorbital space pale : cheeks with a golden 

 tinge. 



Large shoals of Mackerel appear upon our coast at irregular intervals 

 during the year, but these visits, which may number as many as three or 

 even four in the twelve months, or may be entirely wanting during a similar 



