THE FISHES OF NEW JERSEY. 237 



Pseudobranchiae present, large. Branchiostegals 7, Air-vessel 

 small, sometimes present. Stomach sac-shaped. Pyloric coeca 

 numerous. First upper pharyngeal present, without teeth. Sec- 

 ond with teeth, and third and fourth co-ossified, with teeth. Lower 

 phar\'ngeals separate. Vertebrse 3 1 to 66, in greater number than 

 in CarangidcB, Body covered with minute cycloid scales, and 

 anteriorly sometimes forming a corselet. Lateral line present, its 

 course tindulate. Dorsal dins 2, first of rather weak spines, de- 

 pressible in a groove, second similar to anal, and elevated anterior 

 lobe always distinct. Last rays of dorsal and anal detached and 

 separate, forming in each case a series of finlets. Caudal lobes 

 abruptly diverging, falcate and fin adapted to rapid motion. 

 Anal spines weak. Ventrals I, 5. well developed, thoracic. Col- 

 oration metallic, often brilliant, and prevailing shade steel blue. 

 Fishes of high seas, many cosmopolitan, and all having a wide 

 range. Most are valued as food-fishes, the flesh finn and oily, 

 but sometimes coarse. 



Key to the genera. 



a. ScoMBRiX-i:. Caudal peduncle without median keel on each side ; pectoral 

 inserted high, on level of eye. scomber 



la. Sardin.^. Caudal peduncle with median keel, a small keel above and i 

 below this ; pectoral usually inserted below eye. 



h. Body scaleless, excepting about lateral Hne and corselet. pelamys 



hh. Body wholly covered with small scales, those on corselet and lateral 

 line sometimes larger. 

 c. Teeth of jaws slender, subconical, little if at all compressed; gill- 

 rakers numerous; corselet distinct; pectorals inserted low. 

 d. Vomer and palatines with villiform or sand-like teeth; body 

 robust, compressed. thunxis 



dd. Vomer toothless ; body elongate, slightly compressed. sarda 

 cc. Teeth in jaws strong, subtriangular or knife-like and compressed; 

 corselet obscure; pectorals inserted near level with eye. 



SCOMBEROMORUS 



Genus Scomber Linnaeus. 



The ^Mackerels. 



Key to the species. 



a. Sides below median line of body opaque silvery. scombrus 



a-a. Sides below median line of body in adult mottled. colias 



