304 Notes on Some Fishes of the Coast of California. [May, 
Giinther (Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., 11, 368) considers this species to 
be identical with the Pelamys chilensis of Cuv. and Val. 
attains a considerable size, a series of four specimens lying on 
the stalls in November of this year measuring respectively two 
feet two and a quarter inches, two feet two and three-quarter 
inches and two feet three and a half inches, from tip of snout to 
fork of caudal fin. The caudal fin cannot be said to be crescentic, 
as stated by Girard, since its posterior margin forms two sides of an 
obtuse isosceles triangle. The sides and belly are silvery, becom- 
ing bluish-black towards and on the back, and five or six obliquely 
longitudinal bands of the darker tint run along the sides. 
Scomber colias, Spanish mackerel— The Scomber diego de- 
scribed by Ayres (Proc. Cal. Ac., 1, 1857, 92) has been proved by 
Steindachner to be identical with the long-known S. colias or 
Spanish mackerel of the European seas. Steindachner states 
that it occurs frequently on the coasts of the Galapagos islands, 
and wanders in small shoals along the Californian coast as far as 
San Diego, also that single individuals occur near San Francisco. 
I have never seen this fish in the markets, but the fishmongers 
appear to be acquainted with it. Thus this species and Abula 
vulpes are among the few fishes which inhabit both the Atlantic 
and the Pacific oceans. 
Stromateus simillimus Ayres, pompano.—This species was first 
described by Dr. Ayres (Proc. Cal. Acad., Vol. 11, p. 84, fig. on p. 
85) in December, 1860, and accompanied by a good outline 
figure. Dr. Ayres states that in the course of seven years he 
only saw three or four specimens ; but this year, at least, it is far 
more abundant, as I have seen as many as thirty or forty on the 
same stall on two or three occasions during October. As with 
the other Scomberoids, the examples brought to this market are 
caught in Monterey bay, which appears to form the northern 
limit of many species of fishes, crustacea and echinoderms. 
As in the arrangement of the fishes in the Museum of the Cali- 
fornia Academy of Science, we are, at present, following the clas- 
sification of Dr. A. Günther, of the British Museum, the name of 
this species must be changed from Poronotus simillimus, the title 
given it by Dr. Ayres, to Stromateus simillimus; as Dr. Günther 
admits no such genus as Poronotus, and it agrees with Stromateus 
in the entire absence of the ventral fins, short elevated form of 
body, and single long dorsal and anal fins. 
