

COMMERSON'S* MACKREL. 



Scomber Commersonii. S. dongatus argcnlcus, dorso 



lateribus maculis irregularibus fuscis. 

 {Silvery Mackrel, witli elongated body, brownish back, and 



sides marked with irregular brown spots. 

 Scomber Commerson. Ccpede, 



SIZE not mentioned : habit remarkably long : 

 jaws of equal length, and furnished with strong, 

 sharp, distinct teeth : snout pointed : eyes large : 

 gill-covers composed of two rounded laminie : first 

 dorsal fin long, and very shallow as it approaches 

 the tail: second very short, and emarginated in the 

 middle : vent fin similar : lateral line undulated in 

 an unusual manner, especially towards the tail : 

 general colour silvery, growing dusky towards the 

 back, and varied on the sides by numerous, irregular, 

 dusky spots : pinnules ten both above and below, 

 each composed of four or five small rays united by 

 a membrane : native of the Pacific ocean. De- 

 scribed by Cepede from the MSS. of Commerson. 



* Philibert Commerson, an excellent naturalist, was born at 

 Chatelon ks Dombes near Eoury in Brcsse in the year 1727, and 

 died in the Isle of France, whither he had accompanied Bougain- 

 ville in hia voyage round the world in the year J773. 



