ACANTHOPTERYGII. 209 



The species known, Toxotes jaculator, Cuv., is celebrated for the same 

 faculty that distinguishes the Chsct. restrains. By spurting- drops of water 

 on Insects which frequent aquatic plants, they are beaten down and brought 

 within its reach. It can force the water to a height of three or four feet, 

 and rarely misses its aim. 



FAMILY VII. 



SCOMBEROIDES. 



Our seventh family is composed of a multitude of fishes with small 

 scales, a smooth body, and whose tail and caudal fin in particular 

 are extremely powerful. 



This family is of the greatest utility to man, by the size and fla- 

 vour of its species, and their inexhaustible reproduction, which brings 

 them periodically into the same latitudes, where they constitute the 

 object of the most extensive fisheries. 



SCOMBER, Lin. 



The first dorsal entire, while on the contrary, the last rays of the second, as 

 well as those of the anal which correspond to them, are detached, forming 

 what are termed false or spurious fins, or pinnx spuriae. The genus is sub- 

 divided as follows: 



SCOMBER, Cuv. 



The Mackerels have a fusiform body covered with uniformly small and 

 smooth scales? two little cutaneous crests on the sides of the tail; an empty 

 space between the first and second dorsal. 



Sc. scombrus, L. (The Common Mackerel.) Blue back, varied with 

 black, undulating streaks; five false fins above and beneath. 



THYNNUS, Cuv. 



A soft corslet round the thorax, formed by scales larger and smoother than 

 those on the rest of the body; a cartilaginous carina between the two little 

 crests on the sides of the tail; the first dorsal extends close to the second. 



Sc. thynnus, L. (The Tunny. ) This fish has been taken in the Mediter- 

 ranean, from a very ancient date, and by its abundance constitutes a great 

 source of wealth to Provence, Sardinia, Sicily, &c. It is said to attain the 

 length of fifteen and eighteen feet, and has nine spurious fins above, and 

 as many beneath; the pectorals are one-fifth of its whole length. There are 

 some other subgenera. 

 2 B 



