SCOMBKID^. — LV. 105 



a, Finlets present (5 to 10 in number) behind D. and A. ; dorsal spines less 

 than 25 . ( Sconibrinm . ) 

 b. Caudal peduncle with median keel, a small keel above and below this. 

 c. Body wholly covered with small scales, those on the "corselet" and 

 lateral line sometimes larger; vertebra; normal. 

 d. Teeth of jaws strong, subtriangular, more or less compressed; teeth 

 on vomer and palatines villiform ; gill rakers few; corselet ob- 

 scure; dorsal spines 14 to 18; body compressed; head short; 



vertebriE 45 Scombkkomokus, 125. 



dd. Teeth of jaws subconic, scarcely compressed ; gill rakers numerous ; 

 corselet distinct, 

 e. Vomer toothless; palatines with one row of strong conical teeth; 



body elongate ; vertebrae about 52 Sakda, 126. 



ee. Vomer and palatines with sand-like teeth ; body robust ; vertebrEe- 



40 Albacoea, 127. 



cc. Body scaleless, excepting on corselet and about lateral line; abdo- 

 minal vertebra; with enlarged foramina and a trellis-like structure 

 between the vertebra proper and the hiemapophyses ; vertebrse 

 about 38. 



y. Dorsals close together, the interspace about 5 in head ; palatine 



teeth villiform; no teeth on vomer. . . Gymnosaeda, 128. 



_//'. Dorsals well separated, the interspace more than half head ; 



teeth small, on vomer and not on palatines; gill rakers 



numerous Auxis, 129. 



64. Caudal peduncle without median keel (the two lesser keels present as 

 usual); dorsals well separated, the interspace more than half head; 

 spinous dorsal short; body scaly; corselet obsolete; vertebras normal, 

 about 31, in number ; teeth slender, on jaws, vomer and palatines ; 

 gill rakers long, numerous Scombeh, 130. 



125. SCOMBEROMORUS Lacepede. {(T<6jx^pos, Scomber ; 

 ojxopos, near.) 

 a. Gill rakers short, thick, less than X + 8 ; dorsal spines 14 or 15. 



263. S. cavalla (Cuvier). King-fish. Lateral line abruptly 

 bent belovr soft D. Iron gray, nearly plain ; spinous D. not black. 

 Head 5 ; depth 6. D. XV -15 -VIII. A. II- 15- VIII. L. 6. 

 W. Indies, rarely N., a fine food-fish. (Spanish, horse.) 



aa. Gill rakers rather long and slender, more than X + 8 ; dorsal spines 17 

 or 18 ; lateral line wavy, not abruptly bent ; teeth strong ; spinous dor- 

 sal largely black. 

 J. Side with one or two narrow blackish stripes breaking up posteriorly 

 into irregular spots; similar spots usually present below these. 



264. S. regalia (Bloch). Sierra. Pintado. Teeth 40 in 

 each jaw; snout bluntish. Head 4-^; depth 4-^. D. XVIII -1 6- 

 VIII. A. 11-14 - Vin. L. 2^ feet. W. Indies, rarely N. 



bb. Sides with numerous round bronze spots, but never with dark longitu- 

 diniil stripe. 



265. S. maculatus (INIitchill). Spanish Mackerel. Bluish 

 above, sides silver}-; teeth about 30 in each jaw; snout pointed. 



