SCOMBEID^. 213 



985. (1.) Elacate nigra. (Fig. 75.) 



Scomber niger, Block, Ich. t. 337. 



Elacate nigra, Day, Fish. India, p. 256, pi. lv, fig. 2 (see synon.). 

 Sakala, Marathi; Cuddul verarl, Tam. 

 D. 8/28-36. P. 21. V. 1/5. A. 2/25-29. C. 17. Vert. 12/13. 



Length of head 4| to 5, of caudal fin 5^ to 6, height of body 7| 

 to 8 in the total length. Eyes diameter 4| to 5 in length of 

 head, lg to 2 diam. from end of snout, and about 2 apart. 

 Mouth wide. Greatest width of head equals its height. Upper 

 surface of head flat and stellately rugose. Fins dorsal free spines 

 with a very short interspinous membrane ; second dorsal highest 



Fig. 75. Elacate nigra. 



anteriorly, where its rays are as high as the body, upper edge slightly 

 concave. Anal similar to second dorsal, but rather lower, it arises 

 on the vertical below 7th or 8th dorsal ray, its first two rays short 

 and undivided. Pectoral ^ longer than ventral. Colour oli- 

 vaceous brown, a dark band along back below base of dorsal fin 

 and another along middle of side. Fins brownish, with dark or 

 black edgesv Outer edges of caudal lobes white. 



Hob. Seas of India to Japan, also found in the tropical Atlantic 

 and along the shores of the United States. There is a specimen 

 4 feet 12 inches in length in the Madras Museum. In March 

 1867 I took a female, 30 inches long, full of well-developed ova. 



6. Genus ECHENEIS, Artedi. 



Syn. Remoropsis, Rhombochims, Remilegia, Leptecheneis, Phtheirichthys, 

 Gill. 



Branchiostegals seven or eight; pseudobranchiae. Body elon- 

 gate, fusiform ; head depressed and furnished above with an 

 adhesive organ. Eyes lateral or directed downwards and out- 

 wards. Cleft of mouth deep. Villiform teeth on the jaws, vomer, 

 palatine bones, and generally on the tongue. The first dorsal fin 

 modified into an adhesive disk ; a long second dorsal and anal ; no 

 finlets ; ventrals thoracic. Scales very small. JS T o keel on the side 

 of the tail. Air-bladder absent. Pyloric appendages in moderate 

 numbers. 



Geographical Distribution. These fishes appear to be inhabitants 

 of nearly all seas. In those of India they are most commonly cap- 

 tured adhering to sharks, and are consequently considered to te 



