174 LOWER VERTEBRATES. 



The Scombei-esoeines are distinguished by the compressed body, the extension of 

 the jaws into more or less produced or elongated attenuated points, and a moderate 

 development of the pectoral fins. A number of species are known, the most interest- 

 ing of which are the jScomberesox saurus of Europe and America, and the S. brevirostris 

 of the western American coast. The species seem to be to some extent migratory, 

 approaching the coast in the commencement of summer, and departing before the end 

 of autumn. They live in large schools, and swim mostly on the surface. They are 

 capable of flight, but to a very limited extent, and, like the flying-fishes, avail them- 

 selves of their agility to escape their pursuers in the shape of porpoises or large species 

 of their own class, such as the tunny, bonito, and related scombroid fishes. A 

 most interesting spectacle, and that which well illustrates their great agility, is when 

 they are followed by their pursuers. In the words of Mr. Couch, who speaks of the 

 English form, "multitudes then mount to the surface, and crowd on each other as 

 they press forward. When still more closely pursued, they spring to the height of 

 several feet, leap over each other in singular confusion, and again sink beneath. ■ Still 

 further urged, they mount again and rush along the surface, by repeated starts, for 

 more than one hundred feet, without once dipping beneath, or scarcely seeming to 

 touch the water. At last the pursuer springs after them, usually across their course, 

 and again they all disappear together. Amidst such multitudes — for more than twenty 

 thousand have been judged to be out of the water together — some must fall a prey 

 to the enemy ; but, so many hunting in company, it must be long before the j)ursuers 

 abandon. From inspection we could scarcely judge the fish to be capable of such 

 flights, for the fins, though numerous, are small, and the pectoral far from large, 

 though the angle of their articulation is well adapted to raise the fish, by the direc- 

 tion of their motions, to the surface." 



The Scomberesocines are supposed to feed chiefly on soft pelagic animals. The 

 statements as to their gaminess are somewhat contradictory, but the representative spe- 

 cies, at least, is said rarely to take the bait, and when this has happened the boat has 

 been under sail, the men fishing with a lash or slice of mackerel, made to imitate the 

 living body. It is also rarely taken " since the drift fishermen began the practice of 

 sinking their nets a fathom or two below the surface, a circumstance which marks the 

 depth to which they swim ; but before this it was usual to take them, sometimes to 

 the amount of a few hundred, at almost every shoot of the pilchard nets." 



Nearly related to the flying-fishes are species which have been distinguished as a 

 sub-family, Hemiramphinse, on account of the half bill, which is the result of the 

 spear-like prolongation of the lower jaw, and the slight prolongation, or projection, of 

 the upper. The form is straight and more or less elongated, and the most elongated 

 species of the family belong to it ; the dorsal, anal, and pectorals are generally mode- 

 rately developed, but in some the pectorals are quite long, and the lower lobe of the 

 caudal fin is also enlarged, thus, to some extent, resembling the Exoccetinse. The spe- 

 cies are quite numerous, and found in all tropical and sub-tropical seas. They asso- 

 ciate together in large schools. Most are oviparous ; but a few species, forming the 

 genus Zenarchopterus, are viviparous, and have the anal fin much modified in relation 

 to that habit. Representatives of two genera occur upon the American coast. 



The genus Hemiramphus has species with a robust body, short pectorals, and mod- 

 erate ventrals. One species is quite common along the Atlantic coast, and is found as 

 far north as New Jersey ; this is the H. unifadatiis. Another species, II. brasiliensis, 

 has also been caught on the coast. A third species, H. rosce, occurs on the Pacific 



