106 



Cuvier and Valenciennes as inhabiting King G-eorge's Sound, and 

 a fish very nearly allied to it appears, but very rarely, on the 

 Melbourne Market. 



SCOMBER ANTABCTICTJS. 



{The Mackerel) 



Height of body five and a-quarter times in its total length ; 

 head four and a-quarter times in the same ; orbit five and a-half 

 times in the length of head. The first dorsal has eleven spines, 

 the longest of which is the second, the last being very small and 

 difficult to see ; the second dorsal has one spine and eleven rays, 

 of which the first is the longest, and the others go on decreasing, 

 the four last being about equal amongst themselves and also to 

 the spine ; these cover five pinnulce. The caudal has fifteen long 

 rays and numerous shorter ones on each side ; the lower pinnulce 

 are also five in number. The anal has the same form as the dorsal, 

 and shows one spine and eleven rays ; the pectoral has twenty rays. 

 The membrane that covers, on each side, a part of the eye does 

 not hide more than one-third of it. On the living specimen, the 

 lower portion of the prfeoperculum appears entirely striated ; but 

 on the dried one it is smooth, and the interior edge seems 

 to bear the marks of strong denticulations ; the upper part of 

 the prseoperculum is covered with scales, and others, much larger 

 and of a very elongate form, cover a space below the eye. The 

 teeth are small, rather hooked, equal, and disposed on a line ; at 

 the upper jaw, they are only visible in front, and, after decreasing 

 in size, disappear entirely on the sides ; on the lower jaw, they 

 are much more numerous and extend backwards ; on each of the 

 palatines there is also a hue of numerous teeth, rather longer, 

 more slender, and more arched than those of the jaws. There 

 is no air-bladder. 



The colour is of a dark greenish blue on the upper parts, and 

 of a silvery white on the lower ones ; the back is covered with 

 black waving lines, very irregular, but having generally a 

 transverse disposition. On the sides of the body is a longitudinal 

 series of larger and rounded ones ; all the lower parts are covered 

 with little black dots, very numerous, and irregularly disposed. 

 There are yellow tinges behind the eye and on the sides of the 

 body, and the lower part of the sides of the head shows five 



