PISCES. 163 



Sp. Auxis vulgaris, Cuv., Scomber bisus RAFIN., Scomber Rochei Risso, 

 KAFINESQUE Caratteri, &c. Tab. n. fig. i, Cuv. et VALENC. Poiss. vm. 

 PL 216, in the Mediterranean Sea; Auxis taso Cuv., Scomber taso COM- 

 MEBSON, New Guinea. 



Scomber Cuv. Scales of whole body small, almost equal. Tail 

 with two cutaneous folds on each side at the base of caudal fin, 

 without a middle keel. 



Sp. Scomber scomberlj., BLOCH Ichth. Tab. 54 ; Skandinaviens Fiskar, PI. 29; 

 the mackerel; five false finlets (pinnce accessorial) on the back, and five 

 or four of the same behind the anal fin ; the scales are very small, almost 

 invisible to the naked eye ; this fish may attain a length of 2', but is seldom 

 longer than 16''. The mackerel is very common in the Mediterranean Sea, 

 and occurs also in the Atlantic Ocean as far as 30 N.L. ; also in the North 

 Sea, perhaps to 61 N.L. ; on the Dutch coast, especially in the middle of 

 summer, from June to August. The common mackerel has no swimming- 

 bladder, which however is present in other very similar species from 

 the Mediterranean, Scomber colias GM., Cuv., and Scomber pneumatophorus 

 LA ROCHE. 



B. Lateral line carinate, marked by aculeate shields or larger scales. 



Caranx (CoMMERS., LAC. in part) Cuv. Body depressed. 

 Lateral line loricate, or armed with spines throughout its whole ex- 

 tent or in posterior part. Teeth in jaws small, conical, crowded, 

 sometimes larger in front row, in some none. Teeth in vomer and 

 palate-bones very often small, acute, few. Branchiostegous mem- 

 brane with seven rays. Pharyngeal teeth globose. Ventral fins 

 thoracic. Dorsal fins two; an incumbent spine, pointing forwards 

 in front of first fin, the second sometimes resolved into false fins. 

 Two free spines in front of anal fin. Ventral fins thoracic. 



Sp. Caranx trachurus LAO., Scomber trachurus BLOCH, Ichth. Tab. 56, Cuv. 

 et VAL. Poiss. IX. Tab. 246; the scad, or horse-mackerel; teeth very small; 

 second dorsal fin undivided; the shields along the lateral line begin close 

 behind the head. This fish usually becomes i' long, although occasionally 

 larger specimens of 16" or more are captured. It is met with in the Medi- 

 terranean Sea, the North Sea, and in the Atlantic Ocean as far as the Cape 

 of Good Hope, and even in the Indian Sea. There are however different 

 varieties, or perhaps species, which have been united under the same name. 

 In the other species of this numerous genus the lateral line is armed 

 with shields in its hindmost part only. In some, of which CUVIER formed 

 the sub-genus Citula, the first soft ray of the second dorsal and of the anal 

 fins is produced into a long filament. Sp. Caranx citula Cuv., Caranx 

 cirrhosus EHBENB., Cuv. et VAL. Poiss. ix. PI. 250. 



Vomer Cuv. (Zeus L. in part). Body compressed, high. Head 

 compressed, declivous. Scales very small or inconspicuous, larger 



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