92 ACANTHOPTERYGII. 



this question, but the example of each variety in my collection have the numbers 

 recorded, otherwise the proportions of the two are very similar. 



Names. Coly mackerel and Spanish mackerel, the first taken from its Latin 

 name, whereas the second is objectionable, this designation having been used 

 for another species. Ray remarks, " The tunny-fish or Spanish mackrell. Hunc 

 in Mari Gornubiam alluente captum Pensantice vidimus." 



Habits. Couch states that this species is not so active as the common mackerel, 

 but is said to be equally voracious as a feeder. It comes irregularly off our coasts, 

 but at Marseilles it appears at spring time, and at Nice in numbers during May and 

 November. 



As food. Mr. Dunn observes that its flesh is softer and it decomposes 

 more quickly than the common mackerel. It is found in Europe to be very 

 inferior to the Scomber scomber, from which it may at once be known by its much 

 larger eye : in fact, in the Mediterranean they are usually salted before being 

 eaten. In Spain salted colias is said to obtain a good market, but in no other 

 European country have they any considerable sale. On the other hand, De Kay 

 asserts that at New York "they are excellent eating." Therefore, like the Scomber 

 scomber, their taste may depend on locality. 



Habitat. In Europe they are found in the Mediterranean, wanderers straggling 

 to the south coast of Great Britain. Lowe, 1. c, recorded that in April, 1844, the 

 market at Funchal, in Madeira, was plentifully supplied with these fishes for two 

 or three successive clays. They were said to have been brought from Porto Santo. 

 In the Western Hemisphere they are found from Nova Scotia to Cape Hatteras. 



This fish in certain seasons does not appear to be infrequent in Cornwall : 

 according to Couch, three or four hundred are occasionally seen at a time. A 

 number were recorded in 1850 off Brighton (Hussey, Zoologist, 1850, p. 2929). 

 Edward thinks he recognized one example in Banffshire. Turton observes that 

 they are found frequently in the weirs about Swansea but do not come in shoals. 



In Ireland they have been recorded on hearsay by Thompson as occurring on the 

 Connemara coast ; it is said on the authority of Mr. McCalla that two species of 

 mackerel are found there, and the second is supposed to be S. colias, while it is also 

 termed Spanish mackerel : Mr. Nimmo subsequently stated to Mr. Thompson that 

 the Spanish mackerel of Roundstone is the Bel one vulgaris. 



Valenciennes records them of 4 lb. weight and 16 inches in length : while 

 De Kay observes that at New York, during August and September, he has seen 

 examples of this fish nearly 2 feet long. I am indebted for the specimen figured 

 to Professor Vinceguerra, of Genoa. 



