82 Mr. Covcn on the Natural History 
GASTEROSTEUS. 
Pilotfish. G. Ductor.—Two of this species a few years since 
accompanied a ship from the Mediterranean into Falmouth, 
and were taken in a net. 
SCOMBER. 
| $ With Finlets distinct. 
Mackerel. S.Scomber.—This fish is taken on the Cornish coasts 
for nine months in the year. They have been brought to Ply- 
mouth so early as the fifteenth of March ; and I have known 
numbers taken so late as the twentieth of December ; those 
which were caught at this late period appeared to be of the 
same growth as those which come early in the spring. The 
females retire long before the males, perhaps to cast their 
spawn. 
§§ With Finlets united. 
Scad. S. Trachurus.—This species does not visit us so early as 
the Mackerel, nor do they unite into such considerable 
bodies ; but it is common through the summer. 
Albacore. S. glaucus.—I believe this fish is not uncommon in 
the summer ; but keeping at a distance from the shore, and 
seldom taking a bait, it is but rarely taken. 
Mourrvs. 
Striped Surmullet. M. Surmuletus.—This is a migratory fish, 
and usually reaches the Cornish shores about midsummer. 
Its common habit is to keep close to the ground ; but the 
migration seems to be performed near the surface, since it 
is not uncommonly taken in nets spread for Mackerel, which 
are very shallow, at twenty leagues from land, at the season 
when they are drawing near the shore. 
TRIGLA. 
