FAMILY SCOMBRID^. 127 



GENUS VOMER. Cuvier. 



Body compressed as in the preceding. No filaments or prolongations of the fins. Profile 

 nearly vertical. 



THE BLUNT-NOSED SHINER. 



Vomer brownii. 



PLATE XXV. FIG. 78. — (STATE COLLECTION.) 



Zcua Mtapinnis, Bristly Dory. Mitch. Lit. and Phil. Soc. Vol. 1, p. 384, pi. 1, fig. 9. 

 Vomer de Brawn, V. brownii. Cuv. et Val. Hist, des Poiss. Vol. 9, p. 237. 



Characteristics. Lustrous silvery. Ventrals very small. All the vertical rays short. Length 

 8 inches. 



Description. Body strongly compressed. Tail small, cylindrical. Back carinate, hori- 

 zontal, abruptly descending above the eye, and forming a concave profile. Upper part of the 

 body above the lateral line, and a short distance beneath is destitute of scales. The sides 

 beneath with small orbicular scales, becoming larger on the tail. Lateral line abruptly curved 

 to a point opposite the ninth ray of the second dorsal, where it goes off straight. On the sides 

 of the tail, it is covered with slightly elevated plates. Eyes large, and nearly on a line with 

 the base of the pectoral fins. Nostrils double, oval, approximate, and near the edge of the 

 forehead. Mouth slightly protractile ; lower jaw longest. Teeth to be felt only on the jaws, 

 and a narrow transverse rough band on the fore part of the vomer. Tongue pointed, black 

 at the tip, with a rough band on its centre. Branchial rays seven. 



The first dorsal composed of short and apparently isolated rays, so deeply hidden in a 

 groove as to be scarcely visible. When elevated, there are found to be seven unequal spines, 

 connected together by a very thin membrane. The second dorsal commences above the third 

 ray of the anal ; the second and third longest ; the first short, spinous : it is coterminal with 

 the anal, and consists of one short spine and twenty-two branched rays. The pectoral fins 

 long, falciform, and composed of one short and spinous, and eighteen articulated rays ; the 

 fifth ray longest, and reaches to the thirteenth ray of the second dorsal. Ventrals beneath 

 the pectorals, not quite two-tenths of an inch long, and composed of one spinous and three 

 other rays. There are two concealed spines before the anal fin, but these I have occasionally 

 found wanting. Anal fin with one spinous, and eighteen short subequal branched rays. 

 Caudal deeply forked. Air-bladder very large, with two horns behind. Stomach cylindrical, 

 with numerous caeca. 



Color. The whole body of a lustrous silvery tint, passing into leaden on the back. Irides 

 yellow. Membrane of the second dorsal minutely punctate with black, tinged at its base 

 with fight yellow. Pectorals olive-green, verging to dusky. 



