104 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



Length, 9-5. Of head, 2-4. 



Fin rays, D. 12.12 + v; P. 19; V. 1.5; A. 1.12 + v; C. 20 |. 



In the autumnal months, this species appears in great numbers on our coast. Dr. MitchiU 

 mentions the autumns of 1781 and 1813, as years in which they were particularly numerous. 

 In the early part of November, 1 828, they were also very abundant, and many persons were 

 poisoned by eating them. They are scarcely distinguishable from the preceding, and hence 

 Richardson and Storer have regarded them merely as the young of that species. From the 

 considerations noted above, I prefer, with Cuvier, to regard it as a distinct species. 



It ranges from the shores of New-York, and (if there is no mistake in the locality) even 

 from Canada to the coast of Brazil. 



THE SPANISH MACKEREL. 



Scomber colias. 

 plate xi. fig. 33. 



JU Maquercau colias. Cuv. et V.(L. Hist, des Poiss. Vol. 8, p. 39, pi. 209. > 



5. colias, Spanish Mackerel. Storer, Report Fishes of Mass. p. 45. 



Characteristics. Large. Numerous greyish brown spots distributed along tlie sides. Length 

 one to two feet. 



Description. Body cylindrical, robust. Head considerably flattened above. Eyes large. 

 Nostrils double ; the posterior vertical, and just in advance of the eye. Scales rather larger 

 about the pectoral region. Tongue pointed. Jaws equal, with from sixty to seventy small 

 teeth on each side of the jaws. 



The first dorsal fin transparent ; its second ray longer than the first, the tips of all project- 

 ing beyond the membrane. Second dorsal considerably excavated on its margin. Five dorsal 

 finlets. Pectorals pointed, and just beneath the lateral line. Ventrals elongated, slightly in 

 advance of the first dorsal, but posterior to the base of the pectorals. Anal with a small spine 

 in front, opposite to the posterior half of the second dorsal ; behind this, five finlets. Caudal 

 fin deeply forked, with two lateral carinas at the side. 



Color. Above light green, with numerous contiguous beautifully undulating darker green 

 lines passing down the sides, and just crossing the lateral line. Beneath dull bluish, with 

 large, distant, circular or oblong oval brown blotches distributed irregularly on the sides. 

 Abdomen light-colored, with cupreous reflections. Opercles cupreous and silvery. 



Length, ITO. Head, 2*5. 



Fin rays, D. 9.12 + v; P. 19 ; V. 5 ; A. 1.12 + v; C. 17 i. 



I have seen this fine species in the New-York market, in the months of August and Sep- 

 tember, nearly two feet long. They were not, however, common. They had been taken in 

 a seine in the harbor. On the southern coast, they are taken with a hook attached to a short 



