scombrim:. . 99 



steadily in view, and preparing to seize him at the moment of his descent. But 

 this the flying -fish would often elude by instantaneously renewing its leap, and 

 not unfrequently escaped by extreme agility." 



The example described by Dr. Scott was taken three miles up the Exe, where 

 it had got entangled among some palings, which had been driven into the river 

 about a foot from the edge, where a kind of quay had been made, and which 

 formed a cul-de-sac. Into this the fish got : and so violent were its struggles to 

 get out, that it drew the attention of some workmen who were at a little distance, 

 when one of them got his gun and shot it. The efforts to free itself by shaking 

 the palings were described as like the strength of two men. 



Means of capture. — They are said to take baits only when at great depths, and 

 to refuse them if at or near the surface : a cloudy sky and a mackerel breeze are 

 opportune for this fishing, while the fishery is during July and August. Cuvier 

 observes that when once a shoal of these fishes has been discovered, the fishermen 

 follow them through the entire season. 



Baits. — Will take any artificial substance resembling a fish trailing through 

 the water, but when hooked are very strong. M. de la Moriniere says that the 

 fishermen of He d'Yeu commence in the south of the Bay of Biscay, opposite 

 St. Sebastian, and follow the fish as they migrate towards the north of Belleisle, 

 capturing from 13,000 to 14,000 of a season. Their lines are 80 fathoms in length 

 and salted-eel is considered the best bait, but a scrap of white or blue cloth or a 

 piece of earthenware or tin cut into the form of a pilchard is often sufficiently 

 attractive. 



As food. — It is found in the Bay of Biscay, and during the best season or in 

 July and August, its flesh is whiter and more delicate than that of the tunny, 

 whereas both anterior to this time and subsequently it is inferior. 



Habitat. — Mediterranean, and extending in the Atlantic to Madeira and the 

 Cape of Good Hope. Is common along the south coasts of Europe, and only a few 

 stragglers have been recorded in Devonshire and Cornwall. Van Bemmelen, 

 however, includes this species among his list of those found in Holland. It has 

 been taken twice in Mount's Bay, in Cornwall, in mackerel seines, the last of these 

 two in 1846. In March, 1861, an example 33 inches long was captured at 

 Portland and sent to the British Museum (W. Thompson) : in 1865, on August 

 26th, one 24 inches long to the base of the caudal fin, and 12 lbs. weight, was 

 killed on the Devonshire coast, a little way up the River Exe, about three miles 

 from its mouth, and at about half -tide (Scott 1. a). 



The example figured is one in the national collection and was brought from 

 the Cape of Good Hope. The figure of the young is an outline of that by 

 Professor Liitken 1. c. given three times the natural size. 



