CENTRONOTUS. FISHES. 477 



forming a ridge ; ventrals placed behind the pectorals, com- 

 posed of two spines and a small membrane ; dorsal spines 

 numerous. 



S. marina, (G. Spinachia, Lin.) Body deep brown above; belly 

 white ; head produced and tubular ; fifteen dorsal spines. 6 in- 

 ches long. European seas. B Penn, Brit. Zool. iii. pi. 61. 



Gen. 116. CENTRONOTUS, Lacep. Gasterosteus, Lin. 

 One dorsal fin, with spines before ; ventral fins supported, as in 

 general, by some rays, the most of which are short ; sides of 

 the tail carinated ; anal shorter than the dorsal fin, with 

 sometimes free spines. 



C. ductor, Lacep. The Pilot- Fish. Body bluish, with broad trans- 

 verse bands of deeper blue ; four dorsal spines ; tail forked. 18 

 inches long. American and Indian seas Block, pi. 338. 



This is the fish so well known to mariners, and to which they ascribe the custom 

 of swimming before the shark to indicate its prey. Two of this species some years 

 ago accompanied a ship from the Mediterranean into Falmouth, and were taken in 

 a net Other species of the family have the same habit. 



C. niger, Cuv. (Scomber, Bloch.) Head short, rounded ; eight 

 strong spines before the dorsal fin ; ventral fins white, with black 

 edges ; tail forked. Inhabits African and American seas. 2 to 

 6 feet long Bloch, pi. 377- 



Gen. 117. LICHIA, Cuv. Scomber, Bloch. 

 Body deep and compressed ; lateral line not carinated ; ventral 

 fins with some rays ; one or two free spines before the anal 

 fin ; first dorsal spine often bent forwards and immoveable. 



* With spurious dorsal and anal fins. 



L. saliens, Cuv. Body smooth, compressed, darkish blue on the 

 back ; silvery on the sides and abdomen ; four strong spines be- 

 fore the dorsal fin ; eight spurious fins above and below. 18 in- 

 ches long. Inhabits American seas Bloch, pi. 335. 



L. acideata, Cuv. Head small, compressed ; back brownish ; sides 

 and belly silvery ; eight spines before the dorsal fin ; eleven spu- 

 rious fins above and below. 7 or 8 inches long. Inhabits Euro- 

 pean and American seas Bloch, pi. 336, fig. 1. 



** Without spurious Jins. 



L. calcar, Cuv. Body silvery, with brownish back, and four di- 

 verging spines before the dorsal fin ; two strong spines before the 

 anal fin, connected by a membrane. 10 or 12 inches long. In- 

 habits African seas. Bloch, pi. 336. 



*** Points of the dorsal and anal Jins prolonged. TRACHINOTUS, 



Lacepede. 



~L.falcatus, Cuv. Second dorsal and anal fins falcate ; body broad, 

 brownish on the back, silvery on the sides ; glaucous and yeUow 

 on the caudal fin ; lateral line undulated. 12 inches long. In- 

 habits Red sea. Forsh. 57 



