102 



PELAMYS. 



This genus was at first termed Sarda by Cuvier. The only distin- 

 guishing mark is, that the fishes included in it are furnished with 

 pointed and very strong teeth, which are separate from one another. 



PELAMID. 



Pelamys sarda, Willoughby; p. 179. Cuvier. 



" " Yarrell; Br. Fishes, vol. i, p. 159. 



Scomber sarde, Risso. 



Pelamittis, Rafinesque. 



" Richardson; Supplement, p. 18. 



" Gunther; Catalogue Br. Museum, 

 vol. ii, p. 367. 



.( 



This fish is only of late known to naturalists as a separate 

 species; but it is widely distributed over the ocean, from the 

 Mediterranean through all its length and the Black Sea, to the 

 coast of America and across the Atlantic to the Cape of Good 

 Hope; although we do not find it numbered with the edible 

 fishes of the last-named district by Dr. Pappe. 



In rapidity of motion and eagerness in pursuit of living prey, 

 it does not yield to any of this family, and it has been often 

 seen to spring into the air after the Saury and Flying-fish; but 

 its more characteristic habits are little known. In the month 

 of September, 1836, in very fine weather, with the sea smooth, 

 a large number of fishes, which were described to me by the 

 fishermen so clearly that no doubt could be felt with regard to 

 the species, were very near their boats in pursuit of Skopsters, 

 (Sauries,) in chase of which many of them sprung above the 

 water; when their bellies were seen to sparkle like silver, and 

 the bands on their sides and blue backs were plainly visible. 

 The same has happened on other occasions. 



