GREA T BRIT A IN. 8 3 



Common along the shores of Great Britain, being in some 

 places more abundant than the greater weever ; not so 

 common in Scotland, but has been found as far north as 

 the Orkneys. In Ireland most common along the eastern 

 and southern shores, but present from the north to the 

 south. It has been captured up to 6J inches in length. 



FAMILY VI. MACKEREL (Scombridce). 



Fishes of this family are pelagic forms, readily distin- 

 guished by their elegant appearance and brilliant colours, 

 while they are mostly highly prized for the table. Car- 

 nivorous and exceedingly active, their shapes are well 

 adapted to enable them to glide rapidly through the water ; 

 while, to obviate the least impediment, we find in some 

 species depressions existing into which the pectoral fins 

 may be received. 



GENUS i. The Mackerel (Scomber). 



Geographical distribution. These fishes have a very ex- 

 tensive range, being found in most temperate and tropical 

 seas of both hemispheres, but they do not appear to have 

 been recorded from the American shores of the South 

 Atlantic Ocean. 



I. Mackerel (Scomber scomber). 



Names. Mackerel, formerly spelt Macquerelle ; shiners 

 (young) off the north coast. 



B. viL, D. ii-i 4 /~ + V., V. i, A. i/A, Vert. 44. 



Length of head 4^- to 44- ; of pectoral fin 91. ; height of 

 body 5| to 6\ in the total length. Eye. With broad adipose 

 lids, the posterior extending to over the hind third of the 

 pupil, and inferiorly being covered by the anterior, which 



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