xxx Mr, Jonathan Condi's 



the Spanish mackerel (Scomber Colias of Cuvier) or the species I am now about to 

 describe. The words of Rondeletius seem to imply that the back was marked with 

 short lines, somewhat like the common mackerel (as I have myself observed in the 

 S. Colias, though they are fewer in number and more distant), and also that the spots 

 are on the same part of the body with these clouded lines (which certainly is not the 

 case in the fish usually considered the S. Colias, as described by Cuvier or seen by 

 myself). Unfortunately the figure engraved by Rondeletius does not remove this 

 difficulty, since it is altogether free of such dots, either above or below ; but his re- 

 mark, that the fish was frequently found on the coast of Spain, must have satisfied 

 Cuvier and Valenciennes that the fish they knew as the Colias was the same as that 

 referred to by Rondeletius ; and no other kind of mackerel with which it can be con- 

 founded is described in their eighth volume of ' Ichthyologie.' Under these circum- 

 stances there is reason for believing, that if Rondeletius ever met with this fish it 

 could have been subjected to nothing more than a cursory inspection, and that he 

 subsequently confounded it with the somewhat more common Spanish mackerel ; and 

 as it certainly has not been since recognized by any naturalist, it may safely be pro- 

 nounced a species new to science. 



This specimen was caught in a seine at Looe, July 6th, 1848 ; and I owe the pos- 

 session of it to the kindness of Mr. Clement Jackson, of East Looe. The length was 

 1 5\ inches, and the general proportions were those of the common mackerel. The 

 more minute differences will be pointed out at the conclusion of this description. 

 The first thing which attracted attention, in comparison with a common mackerel 

 which lay beside it, were the scales, which covered the surface of the sides and belly, 

 where none at all appears in the common species. These scales were conspicuous, 

 appearing to be marked out by the crossing of minute lines running transversely, and 

 their rounded edges appeared as if directed forward. There was no corslet, but above 

 the pectoral fin there was some appearance of it, in a line of denser scales, which 

 vanished under the pectoral fin. The first and second dorsal fins were three inches 

 apart, — and the posterior edge of the former was more extended backward, and the 

 groove that receives it longer, than in the other mackerel. Lateral line waved. First 

 dorsal fin, 12 rays ; second dorsal fin, 11 rays ; pectoral fin, 20 rays. The tail rather 

 more slender ; and the attenuated portion of the body, close befoie the caudal fin, de- 

 pressed and square. But the most remarkable distinction between this and the other 

 British mackerels was in the colour, which was a uniform dark neutral tint over the 

 head and back, without any coloured bands or variegations — it might be termed an 

 olive bluish green, with green reflections at the sides ; and from before the eyes, along 

 the back and sides to the tail, the surface was thickly covered with spots, of the size 

 of a small pea, generally round and well-defined, but a little larger and elongated 

 transversely on the summit of the back. The spots end a little below the lateral line, 

 and the belly is a pure white ; the surface between the carinations of the tail a 

 bronzed yellow colour. A membranous process unites the fifth ray of the first dorsal 

 fin with the back ; but this may not be a permanent character. I found this specimen 

 a female, large with roe, and destitute of a swimming-bladder, — as is also our com- 

 mon mackerel, and I believe also the S. Colias ; but the remark becomes important, 

 as some species of this genus are possessed of this organ, and one sort is only to be 

 definitely distinguished from the common mackerel by being supplied with it. 



Having obtained a figure, of the size of Nature, and a description, I sent this 

 fish with the drawing to my friend Mr. Yavrell, to be added to his collection, and also 



