FAMILY SCOMBRIDiE THYNNTJS. 105 



chain. They are excellent eating. If this species is identical with the S. colias of Europe, 

 it has a wide geographical range ; crossing the ocean from the Mediterranean, and occurring 

 along our coast from Massachusetts to Carolina. In the plate, it is erroneously represented 

 as of the natural size. 



GENUS THYNNUS. Cuvier. 



Scales on the thorax larger, forming a sort of corselet. Two dorsals, the first reaching 

 nearly to the second. A single row of small, pointed, crowded teeth in each jaw. Nume- 

 rous finlets behind the dorsal and anal fins. A long elevated crest on each side of the tail. 



Obs. The fish of this genus have the general form of the Mackerel, but are less compressed. 

 As now restricted by Cuvier, it contains eleven species, of which three occur along the coast 

 of South America. On our coast we have, as a straggling visitor, the celebrated Tunny of 

 Europe, which appears in such immense scholes along the shores of the Mediterranean and 

 Euxine seas. 



THE COMMON TUNNY. 



Thynncs vulgaris. 



plate x. fig. 28. 



Thynnus vulgaris, Le Thon commun. Cuv. et Val. Vol. 8, p. 58, pi. 210. 

 T. id., The Common Tunny. Storer, Massachusetts Report, p. 47. 



Characteristics. Very large and long pectorals. Corselet pointed behind. No colored lines 

 nor spots. Length 9-12 feet. 



Description. Form elongated, fusiform. Length of the head, 27*0. Jaws, when closed, 

 nearly equal. Tongue large and broad. Gape of the mouth very large. Eyes circular, and 

 twelve inches apart. Gill-covers smooth, and very large. Scales on the anterior part of the 

 back, in front of the first dorsal, and beneath the pectorals, very large. 



First dorsal fin with very robust rays ; it begins twenty-seven inches from the end of the 

 snout, and its first ray is nine inches long, and from this the rays gradually diminish in size : 

 this fin, when recumbent, is concealed in a deep groove. The second dorsal rises shortly 

 behind the first, is twelve inches high, and five inches along the base, very robust and trian- 

 gular ; behind this are nine finlets. Pectorals falciform, sixteen inches high. Ventrals 

 beneath the pectorals, in a groove at their bases. Anal fin posterior to the second dorsal, 

 fifteen inches high ; and posterior to this, nine finlets. Caudal fin lunated, measuring twenty- 

 nine inches across the tips. The keel or ridge on each side seven inches long, and an inch 

 and a half high ; a smaller keel on each side of the larger one, three inches long. 



Color. Upper surface blackish ; sides silvery ; beneath white. Tongue and inside of the 

 mouth black. Irides golden, with greenish reflections. Gill-covers silvery grey. First dor- 

 sal blackish ; the second reddish brown. Finlets bright yellow, dark at the base and upon 

 the anterior edge. Pectorals silvery grey. Ventrals blackish above, beneath white. 



Fauna — Part 4. 14 



