154 



SCOMBERID.E. 



ACANrilOPTERYGII. 



SCOMRERID^. 



THE SCAD, OR HORSE-MACKEREL. 



Caranx trachurus, Lacepede. 



,, ,, Cuv. et Valenc. Hist. Nat. des Poiss. t. ix. p. 11, pi. 246. 



Scomber ,, LiNvaius. Block, pt. ii. pi. 56. 



„ „ Scad, Pen NT. Brit. Zool. vol. iii. p. 363, pi. 62. 



Don. Brit, Fish. pi. 3. 

 Trachurus vulgaris, ,, Fi.em. Brit. An. p. 218, sp. 163. 



Generic Characters. — Body covered with small scales, with the exception of 

 the lateral line ; lateral line armed with a series of broad scales, those on the 

 posterior half of the body having an elevated horizontal keel in the centre, form- 

 ing a continuous ridge, each scale ending in a point directed backwards ; two 

 distinct dorsal fins ; free spines before the anal fin ; teeth exceedingly minute ; 

 branchiostegous rays 7. 



The Scad, or Horse- Mackerel, as it is commonly 

 called, in reference to its supposed coarseness and consequent 

 inferiority, rather than to its size, is occasionally abundant on 

 particular parts of our southern shore, and may be traced 

 nearly all round the British coast. Communications from 

 various sources will supply a better history of this species 

 than any materials I could myself furnish. 



This fish occurs on the coast of Antrim in Ireland, at 

 Belfast bay in the north, along the shore of the county 

 of Cork in the south, and probably at many intermediate 



