68 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES 



Family SCOMBRID^. 



127. Sarda cWlensis Giivier & Valenciennes. 



Abuudant in the market for two or three days, but not again seen. We 

 preserved one specimen, 46 cm. in length. 



Eighteen gill-rakers are attributed to the horizontal limb of the anterior 

 branchial arch by Jordan & Evermann, 1896, p. 872. They also describe the maxil- 

 lary as not reaching the eye. In our specimen there are but nine gill-rakers including 

 one rudiment; and the maxillary extends to below the posterior border of the eye. 



128. Scomberomorus sierra Jordan <£• Starks. 



This species is brought into the market daily, and is one of the most important 

 food fishes. We preserved six specimens. 



If it is distinct from its East Coast relative, ^S'. maculatus, it is separated by 

 only slight characters, and a large series from both shores will have to be compared 

 accurately to define the species. The chief character that has been alleged to sep- 

 arate the two is the more backward position of the dorsal in S. sierra. Our 

 material shows this character to be valueless. 



We have but three specimens of -S'. maculatus. From these, S. sierra seems to 

 differ in being a little more slender, and in having the spots rounder and more 

 numerous below the lateral line. As the appended table indicates, the size of the 

 head and eye may average smaller, the number of dorsal rays less, and the number 

 of gill-rakers more. S. sierra has 3 or 4 rows of spots below the lateral line, while 

 S. maculatus has but two, or at the most, the beginning of a third. 



We do not admit to our list 8. concolor, recorded without comment from the 

 Gulf of Panama, by Boulenger, 1899, p. 3. Aside from this record, S. concolor has 

 been known only from Monterey Bay, California. 



