138 SCOMBERID.fi. 



This specimen exceeded the average size, being nine feet in 

 length. 



Mr. Couch in his MS. states that " the Tunny appears on 

 the Cornish coast in summer and autumn ; but is not often 

 taken, because it does not swallow a bait, or at least the 

 fishermen use no bait that is acceptable to it ; and its size 

 and strength seldom suffer it to become entangled in their 

 nets. It feeds on Pilchards, Herrings, and perhaps most 

 other small fishes ; but the Skipper, Esox saurus, seems to 

 be a favourite prey ; for it not only compels it to seek another 

 element for safety, but will also spring to a considerable 

 height after it, usually across its course, at the same time 

 attempting to strike down its prey with its tail. Osbeck says 

 it feeds eagerly on the cuttle." 



The fin-rays are as follows : 



D. 14 1 + 13 VIII : P. 31 : V. 1+5 : A. 2 + 12 VIII : C. 17 to 19. 



The general form of the Tunny is similar to that of the 

 well-known Mackerel, except that it is larger, more rounded, 

 and that the jaws are shorter ; the lower jaw is very little 

 longer than the upper ; the mouth is not deeply cleft ; each 

 jaw is furnished with a row of small teeth as sharp as pins, 

 and slightly curved inwards ; the tongue and the inside of 

 the mouth very dark-coloured, almost black : the eye is sur- 

 rounded by a membrane within the orbit, which covers part 

 of its disk ; the cheeks are covered with long, narrow, pointed 

 scales ; the operculum smooth : the first dorsal fin is lodged 

 in an elongated depression on the back, which conceals it 

 when it is folded down ; a small spine before the commence- 

 ment of the second dorsal fin, which fin is followed by nine 

 finlets, which might be considered as ten, an apparent tenth 

 being sometimes detached from the tail : the anal fin, pre- 

 ceded by two short spines, commences nearly on a line with 



