THE SCOMBERTD^ OR MACKEREL. 35 



present known only by one species. I'his extraordinary 

 fish was discovered by Mr. Lowe, by whose excellent 



description and figure we only know it. Tavo specimens 

 were procured by this excellent and indefatigable natu- 

 ralist on the coast of Madeira, the largest of which mea- 

 sured nearly five feet, although its body is so thin that 

 it has justly been compared to the Gymnetres. It is a 

 - truly formidable fish ; for so great was its ferocity that 

 it attacked the men most furiously upon being drawn 

 into the boat, so that they were obliged in self-defence 

 to kill it by repeated blows. Its discovery is of the 

 highest importance, not only as giving us a new family type, 

 but as leading to the genus Sudis of Rafinesque, which 

 has also an adipose fin, and evinces an equally strong 

 relation of analogy to the SphyrtBnincB in the next 

 family. According to Mr. Lowe's views, the nearest 

 affinity of Alepisaurus is to Lepidotus and Trichiurus. 

 (SS.^ It is in this family, and as its most aberrant 

 type, that we have ventured to place the genus Fistu- 

 laria, not, indeed, the incongruous assemblage of types 

 now arranged under that name, but only the Fistularia 

 tabaccaria of Block (pi. 387.), one of those singular 

 types of the tubular-mouthed fish, scattered, like Mor- 

 myrus, Gomphosis, Syngnathus, &c. in all the orders. 

 There is no observable affinity that we can trace between 

 Fistularia, even as now restricted, and Xiphius, or 

 Alepisaurus; and yet the analogy it bears to Aulostoma 

 is so strong, that hitherto they have even been placed in 

 the same division. It must be remembered, however, 

 that Aulostoma cannot be separated, in a natural series,- 

 from the Gasterostince, because it is connected to them by 



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