216 ACANTHOPTERYGII. MACKEREL FAMILY. 



Britain. It is a rare visitor, however, in Scotlaii<l, 

 not above two or three being taken annually in the 

 Firth of Forth ; it is scarce also on the eastern coast 

 of England, but abounds in the southern, especially 

 off Cornwall and Devonshire ; it is also common on 

 the Irish shores. In the autumn of 1829, Mr. 

 Couch states that more than sixty were hauled on 

 shore at once in a net, some of them of large size ; 

 it continues common till the end of winter, after 

 which it is less plentiful, but never scarce. Mr. Pen- 

 nant mentions that the largest specimen he ever 

 heard of weighed 12 lbs., and that one of half tlie 

 size is considered as above the average : twelve or 

 -eighteen inches is a common length, although Cu- 

 vier has seen them two feet long, and heard of their 

 reaching two and a half. Its conformation is alto- 

 gether singular, and is better expressed by the 

 pencil than by words. The body is oval, the heax^l 

 large, and the mouth capable of great protrusion ; 

 the eyes are situate high in the head. The prevail- 

 ing colour of the body is an olive-brown tinged 

 -vvith yellowy reflecting, in different lights, blue, 

 gold, and white. When the fish is first taken from 

 the water, and held in the hand, the varying tints 

 of these different colours pass in rapid succession 

 over the body. 



Opinions are not in unison as to the quality of 

 this fish as an article of food, any more than of 

 many others which have passed under review. 

 Mr. Pennant denominates it the most delicious 

 luxury, and this seems to be the prevailing senti- 



