PISCES THORACICI. SCOMBER. 
27 
The trunk. The back, breast, and abdomen, somewhat convex, but carinate also ; the sides convex, com¬ 
pressed. Branchiae four-leaved, pectinate. The lateral line supreme, gently arched to the beginning of the 
pinnulse, then straight to the middle of the caudal fin, carinate to near the end, where it has a fin-like edge. 
The anus middle. 
The fins. There are two dorsal fins besides the pinnulse : the first spinous, consisting of fifteen or sixteen 
soft spines, of which the last six, (connected by a very tender membrane and lying in a groove) may easily 
escape notice if not raised; the second has eighteen or twenty ramous, declining rays, the last three with some¬ 
what the appearance of pinnulae: the pinnae spuria; vary from eight to nine. The pectoral fins middle, broad, 
acuminate above; the ventral of the same shape but not half so long; the anal of the same form with the 
second dorsal; the pinnulae vary from seven to eight; the caudal completely falcate, and all the fins are some¬ 
what of a falcate form. 
The colour. The upper part of the head a changeable dark green and blue, the ridge of the back of the 
same colour, but changes to a polished leaden, which, from the lateral line growing gradually lighter, termi¬ 
nates on the belly in a bluish white. Above, but parallel to the line, a row of small, round spots, nearly black; 
and on the sides are several similar spots. The fins are darkish, the ventral and anal excepted, which are of 
the same colour with the belly. 
Length of the subject described, one foot five inches, 
REMARKS. 
This is one of the fishes esteemed by the Europeans. It is reckoned best when about the size of two feet. 
Under fourteen inches, is drier than an indifferent English Mackarel, but when it exceeds two feet and 
a half, is coarse and insipid. 
The figure now presented, differs considerably from the figure of the same fish given by Bloch, particularly 
in the shape of the first dorsal fin and the tail. In the Appendix to Willoughby, (to which Bloch makes 
reference) the figure is without the first dorsal fin: owing probably to the drawing being made from a 
dried subject. 
No. CXXXV. 
Scomber pinmdis dorsalibus decern , analibus duodecem; cauda falcata; corpore lanceolate, 
alepidoto, viaculis oblongis; linea lateralis injrada , ad jinem carinata , cum appendice 
membranacea. 
The Scomber with ten dorsal, and twelve anal pinnulae: the tail falcate. The body lan¬ 
ceolate, naked, with oblong spots. The lateral line infracted, and carinate towards the 
end, with a membranous appendix. 
Called by the Natives Konam. 
16 
B . vii. D. 16. 16. P. 22. V. 6. A. 14. C. 24. 
This fish in the shape of the body and head, as likewise of the mouth, tongue, palate, and eyes, agrees nearly 
with the Seer-fish. The teeth here are not so close, and incline forward; the lateral line less conspicuous, more 
straight above the pectoral fin, and slopes more abruptly opposite to the dorsal; has no carina till near the 
end, where there is a membranous protuberance. 
