420 MITCHILL ON THE TISHES OF NEW-YORK. 



where about him ; nor any spurious fins. But a sort of second lateral 

 line near the roots of the dorsal fins, on each side of the back. 



Rays, Br. 7. D. 8—24. A. 19. P. 18. V. 4. C. 18. 



6. Spanish Mackerel. (Scomber maculatus.) 



Length nineteen inches ; depth three and a half ; thickness rather 

 more than two. Girth about eight ; so that a section of his body is 

 elliptical. Weight twenty-seven ounces. A fine and beautiful fish* 

 Comes in July. 



Snout pointed. Gape wide. Jaws close accurately, but in such a 

 manner that the lower is bigger, and seems longer, than the upper. 

 The former is rather blunt, while the latter is sharper. 



Tail spreads into a broad fork, or widens almost to a crescent, which 

 is so large that the extremities of the caudal fin are six inches apart. 



Margin of the enormous mouth armed with distinct and cuspidated 

 teeth ; excepting the front of both jaws, where they are scarcely per- 

 ceptible, or are quite wanting. 



Tongue small. Gill-openings ample. Eyes large and yellowish 

 bright. Nostrils near them forward, and double. 



Ridge .of the back from head to tail greenish. Rest of the back 

 leaden or dove-coloured. Chin, neck, gill-covers, sides, and belly, a 

 resplendent white. Ventral, anal, and spurious lower fins, exhibit a 

 whiteness scarcely less brilliant. 



About twenty yellowish spots, some of them a quarter of an inch in 

 diameter, decorate the sides, and impart to them a gay appearance. 

 They are distributed about without any regard to rows. 



Lateral line contrasts with the continuous skin, by being scaly. Com- 

 mences above the gill-opening, and at first rises a little. Then it de*- 

 scends through and among the spots, touching occasionally' some of 

 them, and dividing others. It does not travel straight, but crooks and 

 meanders along prettily toward the tail. 



