66 THE MACKAREL TRIBE. 



remark, that a forked tail is always accompanied Avitli a pec- 

 toral fin that is (more or less) pointed, Avhich observation, 

 although not in every case correct, is nearly so; and taken 

 together Avith the number of lesser fins on the hinder parts 

 of the body, the fishes thus furnished arc rendered the best 

 qualified of all the tribes of the ocean to pass rapidly through 

 a large extent of sj^ace, and suddenly to change their course 

 as hope or fear may render expedient. 



This family was regarded as a single genus by Linnscus, and 

 was arranged by him in his Thoracic order; but by Cuvier 

 it has been divided into several genera, of which wc shall 

 take notice as we proceed to describe the separate species. 



