SCOMBRID^. 101 



second dorsal. The pectoral in adults extends to beneath the tenth dorsal spine. 

 Anal similar to the second dorsal, and commences on a vertical line behind its last 

 ray. Caudal with pointed lobes. Scales — anteriorly form a corselet, which 

 reaches from the base of the pectoral fin along the whole length of that of the 

 first dorsal : behind this corselet the body is destitute of scales. Air-bladder — 

 stated to have been absent in Couch's example. Golours — back bluish, becoming 

 silvery on the sides and beneath. Four, five, or even six concave, longitudinal, 

 dark, bluish bands pass along the side of the body and abdomen, ending 

 posteriorly on the lateral-line or close to the finlets. 



Although Risso describes this fish pretty accurately as to colour and the number 

 of spines and rays, it is questionable whether some error has not occurred, as he 

 stated it to be common at Nice, whereas it is very rare in the Mediterranean. 

 He observes that the body " is covered with small pentagonal scales," a definition 

 applicable to Pelamys sarda (see page 102), with which he appears to have 

 confused it. 



Names. — Bonito. Strvped-bellied-tunny. 



Habits. — Although mostly observed in the open seas, they appear to be some- 

 what of surface swimmers, while they are generally seen in shoals of from twenty 

 to thirty. They may be witnessed in the tropics pursuing the flying-fish, and 

 resemble the tunnies in their propensity for consuming other forms. Lesson 

 found a Scombresox in the stomach of one, and Commerson discovered small shells. 

 Breeding. — Couch remarks upon having procured a female full of roe in the 

 month of July. 



Biseases. — It is tormented, as are also other tunnies, by several species of 

 intestinal worms. 



As food. — Its properties appear to vary : Osbeck thought it dry, as did also 

 Dussumier : but Commerson appears to have approved of it. Personally, I have 

 eaten this fish when rounding the Cape of Good Hope and found it a little dry. 

 Occasionally it causes colic and diarrhoea. 



Habitat. — This fish is chiefly a resident of the open seas, more especially the 

 tropical and warmer portions of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. In 

 Europe it has been obtained off Scandinavia and Denmark, also along the British 

 coasts, the Canaries, and beyond. Although Dussumier brought examples from 

 India I failed to obtain them there, but Thynnus tJiunnina was at certain seasons 

 locally common. 



Stewart (Elements Nat. Hist, i, p. 363) remarks that the " bonito " "has been 

 taken though rarely in the Firth of Forth." In July, 1832, one was captured in 

 the Firth of Clyde (Scouler, Mag. Nat. Hist, vi, 1833, p. 529) and purchased for 

 the Andersonian Institute of Glasgow. But Jenyns observes that it is doubtful 

 if this species be intended or the Pelamys sarda. In July, 1873, an example, 

 3 feet long, was procured by Dr. Moir, of St. Andrew's, from a salmon net, at the 

 mouth of the Kenley Burn (Walker, Scot. Nat. January, 1874). Couch alludes 

 to an example secured at Whitehaven in Cumberland. In September, 1876, one, 

 20^ inches long, was recorded as having been taken in a trammel net at 

 Catwater, Plymouth, while a few larger ones are said also to have been captured 

 there (Gatoombe, Zool. 1877, p. 27). In August, 1880, one, 2 feet long, which' 

 weighed 6f lb., was secured at Hawgill, Solway Forth. 



Ireland. — One was taken near Wexford, 29 inches long, and sent to the Royal 

 Dublin Society. Dr. Harvey also records one from Eansale : in. 1849, another 

 was taken at Bennett's Court, South of Ireland, and sent to Farrell. 



The example figured is stufied, and from the Cape seas. Tarrell's largest 

 specimen appears to have been 33 inches in length, and was perhaps from Cork. 



