AND THE FISH THEREOF. 33 



the shore only after the spawning- is over ; it frequents these waters in dense 

 shoals from April to October, and is the most lucrative object of the summer 

 fisheries. The Spanish Mackerel (Sc. colias), the Horse Mackerel (Caranx 

 trachurus), appear in their company ; also the Flying-fish (Exocoztus volitans), 

 besides smaller shoals of the common Tunny (Thynnus vulgaris), and, more 

 rarely, the Pelamid (Scomber pelamys). 



Lie// hi amia and L. glauca (the Derbio) are rarely met with ; and the 

 Sword-fish (Xyphias gladius) and the Pilot-fish (Naucrates ducfor), thus called 

 from its sometimes preceding vessels into harbour, as if to show them the 

 way, belong rather to the exception. 



The Remora, or Sucking-fish (Eckeneis remorct), is found adhering close 

 to the bronchial aperture of Sharks, the Sword-fish, the Tunny, but it is very 

 rarely met with. 



Seriola Dumcrilii (Yellow-tails), Centrolophus (Black-fish), Coryphcena 

 hyppurus and pelagica (known by misapplication as Dolphins), and Brama 

 Rati (Ray's Sea-bream) occasionally make their appearance in the Gulf of 

 Trieste. The flying Gurnard does not appear to proceed north of Lissa. 



Mullidcr} or Red Mullet family, abound hovering about the shores in 

 medium depths in summer, and retreating to the deep waters on the approach 

 of cold weather : the striped Surmullet (Mullus surmuletus) is the most 

 prevalent kind, the Red Mullet (M. barbatus) is found in lesser quantities. 



Delphinus delphis (the common Dolphin), and D.phoccena, the former being 

 the most prevalent, plough the deep in chase of the dense shoals of Mackerel, 

 and Pilchards ; although causing great havoc amongst the shoals of fish, and 

 doing, often, great damage to the nets, they are seldom destroyed by the 

 fishermen, by whom they are considered a favourable augury of a plenteous 

 catch. 



The huge Sharks, — such as the Fox Shark (Alopias vulpes), the Blue 

 Shark (Carcharias), the Hammer-headed Shark (Zygoena malleus), so called 

 on account of its peculiar hammer-shaped head, scud about in search of prey. 



The Tope (Galcus cants) is often common towards the end of autumn ; 



1 See note, page $2. Mullidoe belong to the class of shore fishes. 



F 



