260 INTRODUCTION TO ZOOLOGY. 



weighed 460 Ibs., and measured seven feet ten inches in 

 length. These fish visit the shores of the Mediterranean in 

 great shoals, and give origin to an extensive and valuable 

 branch of commerce. 



Both the species just mentioned swim near the surface, 

 are great consumers of oxygen, and maintain a high tempe- 

 rature. The Tunny is always spoken of by the fishermen of 

 the Mediterranean as warm-blooded; and Dr. Davy* mentions, 

 that he has known the temperature of the Bonito to be 99, 

 when the water at the surface of the sea was only 80 '5. We 

 have here, therefore, a curious example of a fish with blood 

 as warm as that of a man. 



Highly prized, though of so much smaller dimensions, is the 

 Mackerel (Scomber scomber] of our own shores. Mr. Yarrell 

 states that the success of this fishery, in 1821, was beyond 

 all precedent. " The value of the catch of sixteen boats from 

 Lowestoffe, on the 30th of June, amounted to ,5,252; and it 

 is supposed that there was no less an amount than 14,000 

 altogether realised by the owners and men concerned in the 

 fishery of the Suffolk coast." A favourite bait for this fish is 

 a slip of red leather or scarlet cloth; and a scarlet coat has 

 therefore been called a Mackerel bait for a lady. 



Sparidce. The Sea Breams (Pagellus centrodontus) are 

 furnished with strong jaws, and a great profusion of rounded 

 teeth, by means of which they grind down the shells of the 

 mollusca on which they feed. The Stickle-back (Gasterosteus, 

 Fig. 187), and the Gurnard (Trigld) exhibit a peculiarity of a 

 different kind. The head appears as if mailed or armed, and 

 hence the term Loricati, indicating this peculiarity, is that 

 by which they are distinguished. The species known as the 

 " Fifteen-spined " (ante, p. 230) inhabits the sea, and is 

 apparently fond of coming to the surface in fine weather, for 

 we have taken it in a small towing-net, and on one occasion 

 we saw it captured by a sudden plunge of the hand into the 

 water. The Gurnards emit a peculiar sound when taken from 

 the water; and hence one of them bears the appellation of 

 "the Piper," and another that of the "Cuckoo Gurnard, "f 



* Researches Philosophical and Anatomical. 



f The mode in which this is said to be done has been mentioned at p. 

 219. The " Drum-fish" of the United States is so called from its loud 

 drumming noise. It is sometimes found three feet in length, and 35 Ibs. in 

 weight ; in calm weather the sound which it emits is heard at a considera- 

 ble distance. 



