86 



THYNNTTS. 



"With much of the shape of the Mackarel, the hody is more conical, 

 forward and backward, from about the pectoral fins. It is covered with 

 a coat of firm scales so closely united as to appear as if there were 

 none; and those of the region of the chest are so distinct from the 

 others as to appear like a corset; which, however, is not visible when 

 fresh from the sea; and only appears when the surface has become dry. 

 A prominent ridge on the side of the body near the tail. The first 

 dorsal fin reaches back to the second. Finlets more than five. 



TUNNY. 



Tunny, 



Scomber thynnus, 



Thynnus vulgaris, 

 " thynnus, 



Scombre Them, 



Jonston; Tab. 3. Willoughby; p. 176, but 

 not his figure, which does not answer to his 

 description. 



Linnaeus. Donovan; pi. 5. 



Fleming; Br. Animals, p. 218. 



Jenyns; Manual, p. 362. 



Cuvier. Yarrell; Br. Fishes, vol. i, p. 151. 



Gunther; Cat. Br. Museum, vol. ii, p. 362. It 

 is to be observed that Dr. Gunther supposes 

 the figure given by Pennant of the Tunny, 

 properly to represent another species, Thynnus 

 albacora, but it is not certain that this figure 

 was taken from a native example. 



Lacepede. Eisso. 



The name of the Tunny is supposed to have been derived 

 from a word in the Greek language, signifying the wild rapidity 

 with which it swims; and we might rest satisfied with this 

 etymology if it were not that it has been thought probable to 

 have been originally obtained from a Hebrew or Phoenician 

 term, that was applied by the last-named people to this fish 

 from the great size — much beyond that of others which were 

 known in the sea of that country — to which it has been known 



