F'ishes of Massachusetts. 339 i 
The Dorsal fin, composed of twenty-four rays, 
twelve spinous, twelve membranous, is received into a 
deep groove at its base; when this fin is not erect, 
the spines are scarcely visible, so completely do they 
shut into this groove. Of the spines of the dorsal 
fin, the third is the longest; delicate filaments are 
suspended from the extremities of the first three 
spines. Less than two lines in front of the first dor- 
sal spine when erect, lies a strong spine projecting 
forwards, almost entirely enveloped by the skin. 
The Pectoral fin, one fourth the length of the 
body, commences on a line with the dorsal fin. 
The Ventral fin with six rays. 
The Anal fin shuts into a groove, like the dorsal, 
and, like that fin, is clouded with black spots. The 
three first rays of anal, spinous. 
The Caudal fin forked. 
The fin rays are as follows: D. 24; P. 15; V. 
65A. 15; C. 17. 
Mitchell describes this species as having twenty- 
six rays in the dorsal fin: the specimens I have 
seen, had each but twenty-four. 
Famity VII. 
SCOMBEROIDES. 
Scomser. Lin. 
Generic characters. Scales on the body small and 
smooth ; vertical fins not bearing scales; two dorsal 
fins widely separated ; some of the posterior rays of 
the second dorsal and the anal fin free, forming fin- 
