234 FISHES. 



and Pelamis, (Bonito) Temnodon, and Thynnus 

 (Tunny) certainly frequent the superior strata* of 

 the waters, and the two last mentioned, with their 

 congeners, have partial migrations to the deep sound- 

 ings of the west coast of Africa, into the Mediter- 

 ranean, the China and Australian Seas. Similar 

 kinds of travels are undertaken by some of the 

 Exoceti, (Flying fish) ; but Doradoes or CoryphaensB 

 (Dolphin of Seamen) the greater species of Squali, 

 (Sharks) and Cephatopteri, (Devil rays) come in 

 shore from accidental causes only, or in pursuit of 

 the migratory armies. There is however, no reason 

 to believe, that in all their wanderings, any of these 

 species are ever induced to descend to great depths 

 for a considerable time ; but finding their food prin- 

 cipally near or on the surface of the sea, they con- 

 stantly remain about it, and they may be seen, 

 occasionally hunting their prey, even in the night. 

 The Naucrates (Pilot fish) and parasitical Echeneis 

 (Remora) attend the greater cartilaginous genera, 

 but it may be doubted whether other acanthop- 

 terygian tribes, besides those already mentioned are 

 strictly pelagian and venture in the high seas many 

 degrees from soundings. There are it is true, several 

 Percoides, (of the Perch family) such as Polyprion, 

 (Rudder fish) and other genera whose species are 

 common to the seas of both hemispheres, pass 

 round Africa even into the Red Sea, and eastward 

 perhaps beyond the Coast of Ceylon ; but in the 

 latter case they are in all probabihty coasters along 

 the soundings ; and in the former they make their 

 passage across the Atlantic by attending the sea 

 weed and some pursue their course by following ships. 



To be continued. 



* With the exception of the com mon Mackerel, I have found 

 all fish possessed of brilliant colors and particularly red tints, to 

 be habitually superficial, though very often they reside in the 

 offings, where there is deep water. The seas with corals, which 

 reflect the sun to a great depth, have constantly the greatest variety 

 of species possessed of bright and prismatic colors. I question 

 whether the common Mackerel retains the iridescent hues after his 

 period of activity and when he is in the repose of his deep sea retreats. 



