422 appejsdix. 



GARFISH. 



(Plate COIX, vol. iv, p. 146.) 



The habits of the Garfish are supposed to be well known, 

 but there is a trait in the character of this fish which has lately- 

 come to light, which represents it as more irascible or ferocious 

 than has been usually believed, and as conscious of powers we 

 should have scarcely believed it to possess. An example of a 

 Mackarel was sent to me from Mevagissey, by the kindness of 

 Mr. Matthias Dunn, already mentioned, which had become 

 entangled in the meshes of a drift-net, but which had already 

 suffered from the furious attack of a Garfish. This latter must 

 have rushed at its victim with all its powers, so as to thrust 

 its projecting jaw through the body of the Mackarel at its 

 thickest part, which is close above the pectoral fins, where the 

 upper mandible was broken off close to the head; while the 

 point protruded on the other side to the extent of about the 

 fourth of an inch. The lower mandible had been withdrawn* 

 and the wound must have been inflicted a few days before 

 the capture of the Mackarel, since the wound itself had not 

 the appearance of being entirely new. This incident will explain 

 the fact that the Garfish is sometimes caught with a deficiency 

 of both the jaws. 



