— 258 -' 



that sea, as sturgeon (Acipenser), Gudus euximis and Pleur r - 

 nectes italicus, are unknown or very rare in the Mediterranean. — 



d. Crustacea. Most of the numerous species inhabiting, our 

 seas are used as food, even the smaller ones ; but setting aside 

 the Mediterranean lobster (Palinurus), ef which I shall speak 

 hereafter, I need only mention those genera which are more 

 often met with in large quantities at our fish-markets, thus: 

 Maja, Cancer, Calappa, Eriphia, Homarus, Scyllarus, Palrcmon, 

 Peixvus, Nika, Nuphrops, especially in the Adriatic, and Squilla. — 



e. Mollasca. Most species of Cephalopods are commonly used 

 as food and sold at the markets along both coasts, but while 

 the tougher species of Octopus, Eledon, and Sepia, are classed 

 as coarser sorts and sold cheap, the more tender Sepiola and 

 Loligo fetch higher prices and are much esteemed. A large 

 number of shell-fish are used as food in Italy, and nowhere so 

 well as at Naples, along S Lucia, may the enquirer satisfy his 

 curiosity on this point: besides the common oyster, of which 

 anon, the tables of the « Canolicchiaro » show the following ge- 

 nera, often represented by more than one species : Solen (Ca- 

 nolicchi), Solecnrtus (Lattari), Donar (Tonninole), Venus, Cy- 

 therea and Tapes (Vongole), Cardium (Cocciole), Pecten (Cane- 

 strelli, Pinna (Madrepole); besides Mactra, Mytdus, Mudiola, 

 Area, 8pondylus, Li f hodomus, and other Lamellibranchs. Uni- 

 valves are also richly represented by species of the genera : Pa- 

 tella, Haliotis, Natica, Xassa, Murex, Tofa, Doliiim, &c, &c. 

 /. Ecliinoderms. This class also furnishes food along the sea- 

 board of Italy, and in the markets near rocky coasts may often 

 he seen baskets of sea-urchins {Echini), of which the following 

 species are commonly eaten : Echinus melo, E. lividus, E. bre- 

 vispinosus, and K. saxatilix. g. Cozlenterata. Two species, of 

 sea-anemone are used as food, and commonly known under the 

 name of '< Ogliole »; they are Actinia viridis and A. equina. 

 Other members of this division are the object of special fisheries, 

 but not for the table; they are precious coral sponges, and will 

 be mentioned by and by. — B. special. I. Thunny Fishery. 

 This is our most important special sea-fishery, and although the 

 common thunny (Orcynus thynnus) is the principal item of this 

 industry, not a few allied species are caught by the same means 



