FAMILY SCOMBRIDJE ELACATE. 113 



(EXTRA-LBIITAL.) 



P. ductor. (Ccv. et. Val. Vol. 8, p. 31-2; and pi. 74, fig. 235 of this work.) Bluish, with five 

 darker transverse bands ; two of them passing through the dorsal and anal fins. Tail bordered with 

 dark blue, tipped with white. 4-12 inclies. South-Carolina. 



GENUS ELACATE. Ciivier. 



Head depressed. No carina on the sides of the tail. Nofirdets. Body elongated. No free 

 spines before the anal. Ventral fins thoracic. 



THE NORTHERN CRAB-EATER. 



Elacate atlantica. 



PLATE XXV. FIG. 77. ONE-FOunTH natural size. 



Gastcrosteus canadus. Li\, Sysl. Nat. 12 Ed, p. 491. 



Scomber niger. Bloch, pi. 337. 



CentToitote gardenien. Lacepede. 



Tlie Crab-eater, Centronotus spinosus, MiTCHiLL, Lit. and Phil. Soc. Vol. 1, p. 490, pi. 3, fig. 9. 



L' Elacate d'Amerique, E. atlantica. Cvv. et Val. Hist. Poiss. Vol. 8, p. 334. 



Characteristics. Deep black above ; lighter on the sides ; white beneath. A slate-colored 

 band along its side. Length 15 to 30 inches. 



Description, from a recent specimen. General form and color of an Echcncis. Head 

 broad, and rounded at the snout ; it is depressed as far back as the first dorsal spine. Body 

 cylindrical, tapering. Scales minute, oblong, impressed, and ascending far up the vertical 

 fins. Lateral line irregular in its course, and indistinct. Nostrils double, nearer the eyes 

 than to the snout; the anterior vertically oval. Eyes large; irides white. Teeth on the 

 lower jaw minute, bristly in several series, and separated in the centre by a naked interval ; 

 under the lens, they appear pyramidal, acute and recurved. Tongue broad, reddish, covered 

 to its margin with numerous patches of card teeth ; in the centre, a distinct oval cartilaginous 

 patch, with teeth somewhat more robust. Similar teeth on the upper jaw, palatines and 

 pharyngeals ; the latter somewhat longer. Lower jaw longest. 



Anterior to the dorsal fin are eight distinct equidistant triangular spines, 0-2 in height, and 

 about 0-5 apart; the posterior spine nearly concealed in the flesh of the dorsal. The dorsal 

 fin is very long, elevated and triangular in front, and, after the thirteenth ray, nearly of equal 

 height to the end ; the third and fourth rays arc longest : this fin commences midway between 

 the base of the pectoral and the origin of the anal fin, and terminates above tlic end of tins 

 latter fin. Pectoral fins five inches long, falciform, composed of twenty rays ; the first spi- 

 nous : a strong fold of skin behind this fin. Ventrals short, broad and pointed, with one 

 subspinous and five branched rays. The anal fin resembles the dorsal in shape, but its rays 



Fauna — Part 4. 15 



