SCOMBRHXE. LV. 105 



a. Finlets present (5 to 10 in number) behind D. and A. ; dorsal spines less 



than 25. (Scombrince.) 



b. Caudal peduncle with median keel, a small keel above and below this. 

 c. Body wholly covered with small scales, those on the "corselet" and 



lateral line sometimes larger; vertebras normal. 



d. Teeth of jaws strong, subtriangular, more or less compressed; teeth 

 on vomer and palatines villiform; gill rakers few; corselet ob- 

 scure; dorsal spines 14 to 18; body compressed; head short; 



vertebrae 45 SCOMBEROMORUS, 125. 



dd. Teeth of jaws subconic, scarcely compressed; gill rakers numerous ; 



corselet distinct. 

 e. Vomer toothless; palatines with one row of strong conical teeth; 



body elongate ; vertebras about 52 SAKDA, 126. 



ee. Vomer and palatines with sand-like teeth; body robust; vertebrae 



40 ALBACORA, 127. 



cc. Body scaleless, excepting on corselet and about lateral line; abdo- 

 minal vertebrae with enlarged foramina and a trellis-like structure 

 between the vertebra proper and the haemapophyses ; vertebrae 

 about 38. 



f. Dorsals close together, the interspace about 5 in head ; palatine 



teeth villiform; no teeth on vomer. . . GYMNOSARDA, 128. 



ff. Dorsals well separated, the interspace more than half head ; 



teeth small, on vomer and not on palatines; gill rakers 



numerous Auxis, 129. 



bb. Caudal peduncle without median keel (the two lesser keels present as 

 usual); dorsals well separated, the interspace more than half head; 

 spinous dorsal short; body scaly; corselet obsolete; vertebrae normal, 

 about 31, in number; teeth slender, on jaws, vomer and palatines: 

 gill rakers long, numerous SCOMBER, 130. 



125. SCOMBEROMORUS Lacepede. (cncd>/3po?, Scomber; 



o/iopos, near.) 

 a. Gill rakers short, thick, less than X -f- 8 ; dorsal spines 14 or 15. 



263. S. cavalla (Cuvier). KING-FISH. Lateral line abruptly 

 bent below soft D. Iron gray, nearly plain ; spinous D. not black. 

 Head 5 ; depth 6. D. XV -15 -VIII. A. II -15 -VIII. L. 6. 

 W. Indies, rarely N., a fine food-fish. (Spanish, horse.) 



aa. Gill rakers rather long and slender, more than X -f 8 ; dorsal spines 17 

 or 18; lateral line wavy, not abruptly bent; teeth strong; spinous dor- 

 sal largely black. 



b. Side with one or two narrow blackish stripes breaking up posteriorly 

 into irregular spots ; similar spots usually present below these. 



264. S. regalia (Bloch). SIERRA. PINTADO. Teeth 40 in 

 each jaw; snout bluntish. Head 4; depth 4^. D. XVIII -16- 

 VIII. A. II - 14 - VIII. L. 2J feet. W. Indies, rarely N. 



bb. Sides with numerous round bronze spots, but never with dark longitu- 

 dinal stripe. 



265. S. maculatus (Mitchill). SPANISH MACKEREL. Bluish 

 above, sides silvery ; teeth about 30 in each jaw ; snout pointed. 



