PELAMID, 103 



Rafinesque says it is caught in considerable numbers in Sicily 

 in the spring by those who fish for the Tunny; and both himself 

 and Risso speak favourably of its excellency as food. But 

 common as it seems at times to be, it must be a wary fish as 

 well as active; for whilst some others of its family not unfre- 

 quently become entangled in floating nets, it is very seldom 

 that the Pelamid falls into this misfortune; and in two instances 

 onlv has it been known to have been taken in Britain. One 

 of these was so far north as Montrose; where it was recognised 

 by William Beattie, Esq., and when preserved afforded a portrait 

 to the second Supplement to Mr. Yarrell's History of British 

 Fishes. Another example, from which our figure and description 

 are taken, was caught at Swanage, in Dorsetshire, on the 4th. 

 of December, 1860; for which I am indebted to the kindness 

 of the Bev. J. M. Colson, who thus has placed it in my povv^er 

 to give a representation of a recent British example in its native 

 colours. 



The specimen described measured no more than fourteen 

 inches, but it has been found to reach about a couple of feet 

 in length; the shape in general resembling the Common Mackarel, 

 but Avith a sharper and more lengthened snout; from which the 

 outline rises to the first dorsal fin; the body round and plump 

 to the second dorsal; from which it becomes much more slender 

 as it approaches the tail; the base of which is round and strong. 

 Und-er jaw longest, teeth numerous, large, loosely set, and re- 

 curved; two larger than the others on each side of the median 

 line. Teeth at the root of the tongue in the middle, and two 

 lines of them diverging posteriorly, one on each side of the 

 palate; the gape large, extending back to the plane of the centre 

 of the eye; the last-named organ small and bright, placed at 

 about two thirds of the distance between the angle of the jaw 

 and top of the head, and an inch and one eighth from the snout. 

 The corset is formed of coarser scales than appear on any other 

 part of the body; the lateral line forms a small arch at first, 

 with the corset, and then passes straight back to the tail, ending 

 in a prominent keel. The first dorsal fin rises just above the 

 pectoral, and three inches and a half from the snout; extending 

 back near to the second dorsal; the first rays longest, but 

 afterwards they gradually decrease in elevation; number oi rays 

 twenty-two, the spines stout and strong; second dorsal membranous 



