MACKERELS. 



129 



nearly straight in the male, but elegantly waved 

 in the female. The sides and belly are pearly, 

 with iridescent reflections. The transverse bands 

 of the back have given rise to the name by 

 which this beautiful fish is known. Mackerel 

 (maquereau in French) is considered as having 

 been derived from the Latin word macularius 

 spotted. 



MACKEREL. 



The sudden appearance of immense hosts of 

 fishes on the coast at regular periods,^ by which 

 their pursuit and capture in sufficient numbers 

 to constitute fisheries, are facilitated, was for- 

 merly little understood ; and the older writers 

 had recourse to the hypothesis of long annual 

 migrations of certain species, to account for their 



K 



