FAMILY SCOMBERIDE.E ; TUNNY, SWORD-FISH. 33 



a rare fish on the shores of Britain ; but it is very plentiful in 



the Mediterranean, and has been 

 known and celebrated from the 

 remotest period of antiquity, at 

 which we have any mention of 

 Fish by particular names. It is a 

 far larger and stouter fish than 

 the Mackarel, though bearing a general resemblance to it in 

 form; a specimen which was caught when chasing Herrings 

 into Loch Fyne, measured 7 ft. 10 in. in length, and weighed 

 460 Ibs. The Tunnies, like the Mackarel, are dispersed through 

 the ocean during most of the year ; but in the summer they resort 

 to the shores in vast shoals ; and a fishery of great importance 

 is then carried on along the north coast of the Mediterranean, 

 and in the island of Sicily. The flesh of the Tunny, both fresh 

 and salted, forms a considerable part of the food of the common 

 people of those shores ; and the fishery constitutes a large source 

 of profit to those who reside on the coasts. The Bonito or Striped 

 Tunny, also a native of the Mediterranean, and a rare visitant 

 on our shores, is a very handsome fish, though smaller than the 

 common Tunny ; it is further distinguished by its great activity 

 and voracity, being one of the chief enemies of the Flying-fish ; 

 and, in common with the Tunny, it can sustain a higher temper- 

 ature than most other members of its class. 



558*. Another remarkable group of this family consists of the 

 Sword-fish and its allies, which have the muzzle elongated into a 

 spike, which terminates in a sharp point, and constitutes a very 



formidable wea- 

 pon. These fishes, 

 of which there are 

 several species,are 

 usually furnished 

 with a high dor- 

 sal fin, by the 

 FIG. ^-SWORD-FISH. agency of which 



they are enabled to propel themselves through the water with 

 great energy. They sometimes attain the length of 1 2 or even 



