250 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 



second, third and fourth separate with teeth. Lower pharyngeals 

 .separate. Air-vessel present, often bifurcate behind. QEsophagus 

 unarmed. Pyloric coeca generally numerous. Vertebrae fewer 

 than in ScomhridcB, usually 10+14 = 24. Body sometimes 

 naked, or more usually covered with thin small cycloid scales. 

 Lateral line complete, anteriorly arched, and posterior part 

 straight, sometimes armed with bony plates. Dorsal fins more 

 or less separated, spinous part rather weak, and .spines usually 

 depressible in a groove. Anal long, similar to soft dorsal, always 

 preceeded by 2 stiff spines usually separate. In young more or 

 less connected with fin or with each other. These sometimes dis- 

 appear with age, and sometimes spinous dorsal also vanishes. 

 Often a procumbent spine before dorsal. Pectoral narrow. Ven- 

 trals thoracic, well developed, 1, 5. Caudal widely forked. Col- 

 oration chiefly metallic and silvery or golden. 



A large group of swift-swimming fishes, often with the dorsal 

 fin above the surface of the water. Many are widely distributed 

 and nearly all valued as food. 



Key to the genera. 



a. Serioun.^. Anal fin much shorter than soft dorsal, its base not longer 

 than abdomen. 



b. Membrane of dorsal spines disappearing with age. naucrates 



bb. Membrane of dorsal spines persistent. seriola 



aa. Anal fin about as long as soft dorsal, its base longer than abdomen. 



c. Maxillary with a supplemental bone ; lateral line arched anteriorly,. 

 usually armed posteriorly; pectoral long, falcate. 

 d. Carangin.i;. Dorsal outline more strongly curved than 

 ventral outline. 

 e. Lateral line with scutes. 



f. Body oblong or more or less elevated ; lateral line 

 with scutes on its straight posterior portion only, some- 

 times very few and small, especially in those with much: 

 compressed body. 



g. Dorsal and anal with a detached finlet. dEcapterus. 

 gg. No finlets. 



//. Teeth of jaws in a few series or in i series,, 

 unequal, or at least not forming viUifornr 

 bands, outer series above usually enlarged, 

 lower teeth usually uniserial. caraxx 



hh. Teeth of jaws equally small or wanting, form- 

 ing villiform bands if present. alectis. 



