326 



SPINY-FINNED FISHES. 



they are hurled at the helpless fishes. All eyes are sparkling, all 

 Hps are uttering cries of triumph, clamour, and encouragement, the 

 waters are dyed red with blood, the dying lie heaped together in 

 vast multitudes, and the result is that 500^ or 600 Tunnies are thus 

 butchered in one "tonnara." The flesh of the Tunny is much 

 esteemed ; it resembles beef, and is preserved either by the aid of 

 salt, or by boihng and immersing it in oil. 



The Bonito < Scomber 2:)ela7nys), celehreited on account of its pursuit 

 of the flying-fishes in the tropics, is a kind of Tunny— it may be 



Fig. 253.— bonito. 



recognized by tlie longitudinal brown stripes with which the belly 

 is marked. 



Tlie Sword Fishes {Xiiiliias* are distinguished by their beak, or 

 sword-like nose, which is often fifteen feet in length. This fish is 



Fig. 254.— s-n'ORD-FL-^H. 



more common in the Mediterranean than in the Atlantic. The 

 flesh, which is white and compact, is delicate. It is often taken with 

 the hai-poon. 



Another tribe, called Centronotus,! is characterized by the absence 

 of the membrane that unites tlie rays of the fii'st dorsal fin, which 

 consequently remain free. Among other fishes belonging to this 

 tribe is 



Tlie Pilot Fish {NaucratesX or Scomber cludor), so called from it.s 

 habit of following vessels to seize anything that may be thrown 

 overboard, and also the habit attributed to it of conducting the 

 Shark, which, directed by the same instinct, frequently accompa- 

 nies vessels at sea with great perseverance. It has somewhat the 



* ^i<pos, xiphos, a sword. 



t Kevrpoi/, centron, a sharp point ; vwtos, notes, the bad: 



i vavKpoLT-ns, naucrates, commanding the sea. 



