PISCES. 227 



smaller individuals, is highly esteemed, being considered equal to that 

 of any of the mackerel family. Numerous instances are recorded of fish 

 of this species having struck the snout through, or into, the timbers of a 

 ship, mistaking it, as is supposed, for a whale, the sword-fish having, it is 

 said, a great antipathy to this animal. It is highly destructive to other 

 species, preying on the weaker mackerels to a great degree. The genus 

 Naucrates has a single elongated dorsal, free spinous rays before the dorsal 

 and anal fins ; sides of the tail carinated ; and numerous small teeth. The 

 pilot-fish, Naucrates ductor {pi. 83, fig. 6), belongs to this genus. The 

 pilot-fish, as is well known, possesses the curious propensity of following in 

 the wake of large masses in the water, whether these be vessels or large 

 marine animals. Instances have occurred of their following ships during a 

 voyage of eighty or more days. Their attendance upon the shark has 

 been supposed to be for the purpose of giving warning to their less vigilant 

 or less acute companion, of the dangers to which it may be exposed. The 

 interest, however, is probably, in both cases, that of protection against 

 enemies and starvation. The genus Coryphcena, has a compressed 

 elongated body, and a head with a globular outline ; eyes low, near the 

 angle of the mouth ; dorsal fin rising from the cranium, and extending to 

 the tail, diminishing in elevation posteriorly. This genus, including the 

 fishes generally known as dolphins, and celebrated for their beauty, are 

 mostly inhabitants of mid-ocean, being rarely found off the coasts. Cory- 

 phcBiia hippuris (pi. 84, fig. 2) is a well known companion of vessels, and 

 greatly celebrated for the beautiful play of colors which it exhibits when 

 dying. The dolphins are extremely voracious, and are conspicuous 

 enemies of the flying-fish ; it is also noted for the extreme velocity of its 

 motions, a characteristic, however, of nearly all the Scoinhridce. Several 

 species occur off the American coast, where, however, C. hippuris has not 

 yet been observed. The genus Temnodon, with the general port of a true 

 mackerel, is more compressed, and has the second dorsal higher and longer 

 than the anterior dorsal, and with the anal covered by small scales. The 

 most striking characteristic lies in the possession of a single row, in each 

 jaw, of large, distinct, compressed, and very sharp teeth, which give quite a 

 formidable feature to the fish. The principal species is T. saltator, the 

 blue-fish of the northern American waters, the tailor or skip-jack of those 

 more southern. It is much esteemed both by the angler and the epicure. 

 The genus Zeus has an oval compressed body, a protractile mouth, and the 

 dorsal spines with long filaments, as the most striking characteristic. 

 Zeus faher {pi. 81, fig. 10) is the well known dory, or John Dory, a 

 European species much esteemed by epicures. It has a large round black 

 spot on each side, ascribed by popular superstition to the marks of St, 

 Peter's thumb, when he took the tribute money out of its mouth. In some 

 parts of Europe it is called "king of the herrings," from the fact of its 

 accompanying these fish for the purpose of feeding upon them. 



The family of Squamipennes is readily known by the dorsal and anal 

 fins, especially the soft portion, being covered with scales. The body is 

 compressed, and more or less oval or rhomboidal. Teeth setigerous, or 



431 



