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of Ziphius cavirostris, Orca gladiator; Psendorca (?), Grampus 

 griscus and Globi cephalus melos have been taken. The common 

 cetaceans in the Italian seas are dolphins (DelpJiinus tursio and 

 I), d-lphis), who often cause great damage to fishermen by des- 

 troying their nets; so much so that those of the Ligurian coast lately 

 petitioned Government that a prize might be awarded for the cap- 

 ture ot dolphins; these are not sought for, although their flesh is 

 eaten along the Adriatic, «but near Palermo there is an establi- 

 shment where they are boiled down for oil, together with the 

 heads of thunnies and other refuse of that fishery. — b. Turtles. One 

 species alone may be called common, it is the Thalassochelys 

 corticata, sold as coars) food in the markets of Souhern Italy ; 

 two other species, Chelone riridis and Spliargis coriacea occur, 

 but are extreme rarities. — c. Fish. Of the 460 species known 

 to inhabit the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas, most are sought 

 tor by fishermen and used as food ; I need only except : Cen- 

 triscus, Argyropelecus, Coccia, Maurolicus , Gonostoma, Chauliodus , 

 Scopelus, all Lophobranchs, Orthagoriscus and Br anelilo stoma, 

 as unfit for human food; the Elasmobranchs are all eaten; even 

 the larger species of sharks which are sent to inland markets, 

 and cut up, sell well. As I before remarked, the Italian seas 

 do not afford many cases of large ad important special fisheries 

 and those few will be quoted further on. I may here add that 

 the most esteemed game-fish, as the Americans style them, are 

 furnished by the following genera : Lubrax, Serranus, Dentex, 

 Mauus, Sargus, Pagrus, Chrysophrys, Scorpcena, Trigla, Sphyrcena, 

 Ruvettus, Trachinus, Umbrina, Scicena, Lepìdopus, Scomber, Pe- 

 lamys, Orcynus, Brama, Coryphcena, Lichia, Seriola, Xiphias, 

 Merlucius, Bhombus, Solea, Engraulis, Clupea, Conger, Mu- 

 raria, Acanthias, Mustelus, Baja. Very abundant, but sold as 

 cheap food for the poorer classes, are species of the following 

 genera; Mcena, Smaris, Box, Pagellus, Trachurus, Gobius, 

 Lophius, Blennius, Atherina, Mugil, Labrus, Crenilabrus, Pleu- 

 ronectes, Arnoglossus, Belone, Bhina, Torpedo. In concluding 

 I may remark that there is a notable difference between the 

 fish-fauna of the Mediterranean and that of the Adriatic, the 

 latter has a much more northern character : flatfish abound and 

 attain a greater size, and some genera and species common in 



17 — Annali di Agricoltura. X 



