104 



PELAMID. 



at the edge, fleshy at the base, with twelve rays. The anal fin 

 begins opposite the termination of the second dorsal, with thirteen 

 rays. Finlets nine above and seven below. Tail deeply curved, 

 as in this family. 



There are no oblique lines or cords above and below the 

 root of the tail; the absence of which therefore might be added 

 to the characters of this genus. Pectoral fin small, not very 

 firm, rising close behind the gill-cover, and lying on the corset, 

 which is about the same length; number of rays twenty-five; 

 ventral fins small, with one firm and five soft rays. Colour of 

 the head and back deep blue, with darker transverse lines passing 

 forward from the back to the lateral line; lighter blue below 

 the lateral line, and beneath this a deeper tint, fading into 

 silvery white at the belly. Tail blackish; ventral and anal fins 

 and the edge of the second dorsal inclined to yellow. It had 

 an air-bladder, which was Long and large. 



We have already taken notice of the high degree of animal 

 heat which belongs to some of the fishes of this family, and 

 especially in the Tunny; and its probable connection with their 

 activity and strength. But in the Pelamid this amount of heat 

 was found by Dr. Davy to be even higher than in the others. 

 In three examples which that gentleman examined at Constan- 

 tinople, the warmth of the body exceeded that of water on the 

 surface by seven degrees; and compared with water at a con- 

 siderable depth, it was judged to exceed it by twelve degrees. 



