98 ACANTHOPTERYGII. 



Oermon, J. Couch, Fish. Brit. Isles, ii, p. 100, pi. lxxxiv. 



Thynnus germo, Stcind. S. B. Ak. Wien. 1876, p. 151, pi. xcvi ; Gunther, Fish. 

 Gode. Mus. Heft, xi, Dec. 1876, p. 151, t. xcvi (scaling incorrect). 

 Orcynus germo, Liitken, Spolia Atlant. p. 187, t. iii, fig. 1, 2. 



B. vii, D. 14/^ + YII-VIII, P. 37, V. 1/5, A. -& + VIII-IX, C. 35, Vert. 40. 



Length of head 3| to 4, of caudal fin 5, height of body 4^ in the total length. 

 Eye diameter 4|- to 5 in the length of the head, 1| to 2 diameters from the end 

 of the snout. Lower jaw the longer : the maxilla reaches posteriorly to 

 beneath the front edge or first third of the eye. Teeth a row in the jaws, 

 also present on the vomer, the palatines, and on the tongue. Fins this species 

 is distinguished by the great length of its sickle-shaped pectoral fin which is 

 situated in the middle of the depth of the body : in the adult it equals about one- 

 third of the total length of the fish, but as in the common tunny so in the germon 

 it has been ascertained that the comparative length of this fin increases with the 

 age of the fish. Dr. Liitken has figured in Spolia Atlantica, t. iii, f. 2 (see plate 

 xxxvi), at thrice its natural size, one which measured 4/10 of an inch in length, 

 and in which the pectoral fin was only one-eighth of the total length. The 

 ventrals are placed close together, separated by a fine scale, which gives the appear- 

 ance of an additional ray. Dr. Scott states that the Exe example had 8 finlets 

 above and 7 below. Gcecal appendages numerous. Scales somewhat similar to 

 what exist in 0. thynnus : the groove for the reception of the pectoral fin is well 

 marked, but the corselet is much more obscure. Colours very dark blue along 

 the back, becoming silvery on the sides and beneath. Occasionally dark parallel 

 longitudinal lines pass along the sides of the body. Fins dark. 



In the young there are strong spines at the angle of the preopercle, the 

 posterior edge of which is also serrated. 



The various stages of this fishes growth have been named much as follows. 

 Adult, with pectoral fins reaching to beyond the termination of the second dorsal, 

 Orcynus alatunga and 0. alalonga. The body one-fourth higher than in adults, 

 0. pacificus. Pectorals slightly shorter, being 3| in the total length, 0. argenti- 

 vittatus : a little shorter still, or 4 in the total length, 0. balteatus and 

 0. inacropterus. 



Names. Germon or long-finned tunny : the first is said to be a corruption of 

 War-man in use at the He d'Yeu, when the English were masters of Guienne and 

 Poictou, and referring most probably to its habits of warfare among other fishes : 

 Albacore. Hegalalonchia is its Basque name, and signifies " long-winged," while 

 the usual term among French sailors of longue-oreille or " long-eared," also refers 

 to the extent of its pectoral fins. 



Habits. These fishes appear to have much the same habits as the common 

 tunny, and are equally voracious. They arrive in the Bay of Biscay sometimes 

 as early as May, but more commonly in June, and remain until October, and 

 are usually about two months later than the 0. thynnus. The germon preys upon 

 mullets, pilchards, mackerel, and other fish of gregarious habits, and M. d'Orbigny 

 has found flying-fishes in their stomachs. 



Bennett observes that ships when cruising slowly in the Pacific Ocean are 

 usually attended by myriads of these fish for many successive months, but a few 

 days rapid sailing is sufficient to get rid of them ; they only take a bait while the 

 vessel is moving. They follow the shark in shoals, and annoy it in the same 

 manner as smaller birds do those of a larger and predacious kind, as the hawk or 

 owl. He considered they came to the ship for protection against their chief 

 enemy the sword-fish. " They are very voracious and miscellaneous feeders. 

 Flying-fish, calmars, and small shoal fish are their more natural food : though 

 they do not refuse the animal offal from a ship. Among the other food contained 

 in their maw, we have found small ostracions, file-fish, sucking-fish, janthina 

 shells, and pelagic crabs. In one instance a small bonito, and in a second a 

 dolphin eight inches long, and a paper nautilus shell containing its sepia tenant. 

 It was often amusing to watch an albacore pursuing a flying-fish, and to mark 

 the precision with which it swam beneath the feeble aeronaut, keeping him 



