4'26 
APPENDIX. 
is taken from the first example, and the description from a 
comparison of the whole of the number thus referred to. 
Compared with a Mackarel of the ordinary size the body is 
stouter, and the head conspicuously so; but the body becomes 
proportionally more slender near the tail; where in the smaller 
individual the lateral carina or ridge was obscure, but in the 
others well developed; no scales to be discerned on the body, 
but an irregular corset along the side of the back, which in 
the larger examples was scarcely to be discerned; the lateral 
line begins above the root of the pectoral fin, and is irregular 
in its course. The snout protrudes, and the joint which unites 
the snout to the forehead is much more elevated proportionally 
than in the Mackarel; under jaw a little in advance of the 
upper; gape wide; teeth conspicuous and strong; eye rather 
large; many small lines running backward from the hindmost 
border of the eye and end of the raystache; nostrils midway 
from eye to snout. The first dorsal fin begins in a line above 
the root of the pectoral; in the first e.xample six of its rays 
were long, the fourth and fifth longest, after Avhich the fin 
passed very narrow to the origin of the second dorsal; but in 
three examples the first ray was longest, and the decrease in 
length was gradual; twenty-four rays in all, their roots in a 
chink, which was deepest to receive the larger rays; the second 
dorsal low, as is the anal, the former with fifteen rays, the 
latter eleven; finlcts eight above and below; pectoral fin short 
and wide, with twenty-three rays; tail much forked, but the 
rays not counted, from the obscurity of those in the middle. 
The colour a cast of beautiful blue along the back and upper 
part of the sides, with fourteen broad circular belts of a deeper 
tint along the body; tints of yellow in one example on the 
first gill-cover and behind the head. The first dorsal fin in the 
larger examples intensely black; the second dorsal, pectoral, 
and tail dark, the two last with a light border; fins below 
light; belly silvery. 
