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Miscellaneous Observations on Animal Heat. By John Davy, 

 MD., F.R.S. L. and E.* 



1. On the Temperature of the Pelamides. 2. On the Tempe- 

 rature of Man in advanced age, 3. On the Effect of Air of 

 different Temperatures on Animal Heat. 4. On the Effect 

 of Exercise on the Temperature of the Body, 



I. On the Temperature of the Pelamides {Pelamys Sarda, 

 Cuv. and Val.) 



Fishes generally are commonly considered as cold-blooded. 

 In a work published in 1839, I have stated particulars tend- 

 ing to shew that this commonly received opinion is not uni- 

 versally correct, and that fishes of the genus Thynnus, with 

 some others of the Scomber family, may be inferred to be an 

 exceptionf. 



As this inference was founded chiefly on reports of fisher- 

 men, it appeared very desirable to determine by actual ther- 

 mometrical measurement what is the exact temperature of 

 fishes of this family. 



Hitherto, although watching for opportunities, and promised 

 the aid of friends favourably situated, I have not been able to 

 make any observations of the kind required, excepting on one 

 species of these fishes, the Pelamides, the Pelamys Sarda of 

 Cuvier and Valenciennes. The Pelamides, like most of its 

 congeners, is migratory in its habits. In the early part of 

 summer it appears in the sea of Marmora and the Bosphorus, 

 and in August in the Black Sea, from whence, after spawning, 

 it returns in September and October, on its passage to the 

 Mediterranean, It is caught in the same manner as the 

 Tunny. 



In June 1841, whilst at Constantinople, I visited a fishing 

 station for this fish, in an inlet of the sea of Marmora, and 

 was present when a small capture was made, enabling me to 



* Phil. Transactions, Part I. for 1844. Received November 2.— Read 

 December 11, 1843. 

 t Researches, Physiological and Anatomical, vol. i. p. 218, 

 VOL. XXXVII. NO. LXXIII. JULY 1844. z 



