SCOMBRIDJS. 105 



Varieties in colour have been recorded. The back may have dark spots with 

 light edges. 



Names. Plain bonito was so named by Yarrell in contradistinction to the 

 other forms which are belted or banded. VAuxide commune and Bounitou, 

 French. 



Means of capture. In the Mediterranean a regular fishery exists for them 

 from May until September : they are also captured along with the tunnies. 



Breeding. Appears to deposit its spawn about August : the ova are white 

 and invested with a reddish, albuminous covering. The females are said to be 

 larger than the males. 



As food. When fresh its flesh is but little esteemed, being red and hard like a 

 coarse mackerel, consequently it is usually salted or pickled. This process, 

 however, must be soon effected because decomposition is very rapid, and should 

 the fish be kept three or four days it becomes of a blackish colour. 



Habitat. Scandinavian seas, the Atlantic Ocean, extending to Jamaica : also 

 the Indian Ocean. In the Mediterranean it is rather rare, but is taken along with 

 the tunny. Risso remarks that it appears off Nice in the spring, summer, and 

 autumn. In some localities in Sicily it is frequently observed. 



Lowe observed a single example at Madeira February 3rd, 1845, and remarked 

 that it was not quite unknown to the fishermen, but its occurrence was said to be a 

 mere chance. June, 1839, two examples were captured at Yarmouth, and came into 

 Mr. Yai'rell's possession. 1843, one was taken at Looe, in Cornwall, and two were 

 captured in Mount's Bay, one taken in 1844 being the example figured by Couch : 

 it was preserved in the Museum of the Natural History Society at Penzance. 

 September, 1847, another was captured off Yarmouth, and was secured for the 

 Cambridge Philosophical Society. Mr. Gordon reported to Mr. Couch the 

 occurrence of this fish in the Moray Firth. Mr. Dunn observes in his remarks on 

 Cornish Fishes " one of these was landed here last week." Edward records several 

 from Banffshire, and remarks respecting one that a "very peculiar feature 

 connected with it was, that if stroked down when wet it gave the hand all the 

 appearance of having come across a piece of metal newly black-leaded." 



Yarrell's example measured 18 inches in length. Risso observes that the 

 weight does not exceed 6 lb. 



