3 COM FEE. 293 



FAMILY V. SCOMBEROIDES. 



The scales in this family are almost impercep- 

 tible, on account of their smallness. Usually, the 

 adipose portion of the dorsal and anal fins are 

 thickened by the scales, anteriorly ; the mem- 

 brane of the rays behind is slender, and sometimes 

 wanting in some genera. Cuvier divided the fam- 

 ily into four tribes, characterised by the structure, 

 rather than the position of the dorsal fins.. 



Chub-Mackerel, — Scomber Grex. This is 

 the same fish called thimble-eyed and bull-eyed 

 mackerel, to the south of Cape Cod ;■ to the 

 north of that point of land, for some reason which 

 we cannot explain, it rarely makes its appearance, 

 though abounding at New York. By a round, 

 gently tapering body, waving lateral line, a dark 

 green color on the dorsal surface, and a va- 

 riegated, changeable color on the sides, when first 

 caught, like feathers on a pigeon's breast, it may 

 always be known. 



In the Literary Transactions before referred to, 

 we find that in the years 1781 and 1813, all the 

 bays, rivers, creeks and coves were crowded with 

 this species, which has, since those memorable 

 periods, been comparatively scarce. 



In the branchial membrane are five, pectoral 



