138 SCOMBERID.E. 



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 



