410 
KAMAKICHI KISniNOÜYE : 
and Grammatorcynus. The second basibranchial is bent downward at the 
middle. 
Neural and haemal spines of the caudal vertebrae are not straight, but 
more or less curved. The haemal arch in the precaudal vertebrae is short, 
and turned anteriorly, the haemal spine is little developed in the precaudal 
region. 
Seevfislies are generally active when the sea is rough, and the current 
strong, also in the morning and in cloudy weather. They often leap out of 
the water, and when they are impounded in a net, they try to get out of it 
through the meshes at the bottom, especially at night. Generally they swim 
near the shore, but some of them are chiefly pelagic. Many of them assemble 
and form big shoals, and approach the shore in the breeding season. They 
are predaceous fish, they feed on small fish such as sardines, anchovies, 
saurels, mackerel, and sometimes shrimps and calamaries. Found in the 
temperate and tropical seas. Many of them are excellent food-fish. Small im¬ 
mature specimens of the Cybiidae are more or less flat and broad, larger specimens 
are thick and elongated, quite contrary to the case of the Katsuwonidae. 
This family is related on one hand to the Xiphiidae in the reticulate gills, 
absence of gill-rakers, small narrow scales, etc. through the genus Acanthocybium, 
to the Scombridae through the genu3 Grammatorcynus, and to the Plecostei 
in the form of the body, osteological structures etc. through the genera Sarda 
and Gymnosarda. This family comprises the Sc-ombrinae, Acanthocybinae, and 
Sardinae of Starks. 
Key to the Japanese genera of the Cybiidae. 
Body elongated, teeth in jaws trenchant, vomerine teeth present. 
Gill-rakers none, gill-lamellae reticulated, intermuscular bones inserted on 
ribs. Acanthocybium. 
Gill-rakers present, gill-lamellae not reticulated, intermuscular bones in¬ 
serted on respective vertebrae. 
Two lateral lines on each side of the body . Grammatorcynus. 
Only one lateral line on each side of the body.... Cybium. 
Body plump, teeth in jaws with rounded edges, vomerine teeth absent. 
Body covered entirely with small scales, tongue toothless . Sarda. 
Body naked outside of the corselet, tongue covered with villous teeth, pala¬ 
tines are also toothed.... . Gymnosarda. 
Genus Acanthocybium Gill. 
Acanthocybium, Gill, 18C2; Lütken, 18JO ; Jordan & Evermann, 18!)0. 
