SCOMBER. 



299 



rarity, of which he gave us ample proof. He was nineteen 

 feet or more, in length, our stern being eighteen feet across, 

 and his head and tail projecting considerably on either side. 

 His color on the back, was a brilliant purple, which became 

 gradually fainter towards the belly, where it was a pure white ; 

 the pectoral and dorsal fins were much smaller than in the 

 other species, and the tail not so perpendicular, it being in most 

 of them, thus — 



while this was more horizontal, and tapered more gradually 

 in this form — 



the head also, instead of being flat and semicircular, like the 

 rest, was long and pointed in somewhat this manner — 



the eyes were of a bright green hue. He stole about thirty 

 pounds of meat from the lines, while we were trying to noose 

 him, in which, however, we finally succeeded, and I had al- 

 ready in imagination, placed his head in a barrel of pickle, in 

 order that it might, at some future moment be submitted to 

 the philosophic investigation of Dr J. V. C. S., when owing 

 to the peculiar formation of his opposite extremity, the noose 

 slipped over it, and for aught I can tell, he may yet be hur- 

 rying off as fast as his fins will permit him. 



