ACANTHOPTERYGII. 34-5 



ferent cybium, and the other to the sphyraena. This individual 

 was twenty-one inches in length, and weighed twenty-six 

 ounces. But there are some much larger, three feet, and 

 even six feet long, according to M. Leschenault. The fisher- 

 men of Pondicherry name it vassili-massi, and say that it 

 swims with extreme rapidity. It is excellent eating. Com- 

 merson found in its stomach several small fishes, a proof of 

 voracity which the form of its teeth sufficiently indicates. 



The cybium guttatum is an East Indian fish in great esti- 

 mation among the Europeans. The English of Calcutta name 

 it seer-Jish. 



To eat it in perfection it must be about two feet long. 

 Under fourteen inches it is more dry than our worst mackerel, 

 and when it passes three feet it becomes insipid. 



This fish, it appears, remains at Tranquebar, in the sub- 

 marine rocks, and does not show itself at the surface but from 

 the month of January to that of March. Individuals are 

 taken three feet and a half in length. It is common enough 

 at Malabar, and very good eating. 



It is very subject to the attacks of a species of wood-louse 

 and of a lernaia of a particular species which penetrates into 

 its flesh. 



After the cybia come some fishes equally elongated, part of 

 which constitute the genus Thyrsjltes. The thyrsites atun 

 is from the Cape, where it appears to have been observed by 

 Euphrasen. It inhabits the sea which surrounds the Cape. 

 During the winter of these latitudes it repairs to the bank of 

 the Needles. Its flesh is white, easily divisible into flakes, 

 and somewhat resembles that of the cod in flavour, but it is 

 still lighter. It is prepared by being cut into slices and fried. 



This fish is so voracious, that a piece of red cloth attached 

 to the hook is sufficient to catch it. The fishermen of the 

 Cape form, with stripes of leather and a piece of lead, a sort 

 of image resembling a calamary (loligo) which they throw out 

 to a considerable distance, and draw back again quickly. 



