PISCES. 927 
smaller individuals, is highly esteemed, being considered equal to that 
of any of the mackerel family. Numerous instances are recorded of fish 
of this species having struck the snout through, or into, the timbers of a 
ship, mistaking it, as is supposed, for a whale, the sword-fish having, it is 
said, a great antipathy to this animal. It is highly destructive to other 
species, preying on the weaker mackerels to a great degree. The genus 
Naucrates has a single elongated dorsal, free spinous rays before the dorsal 
and anal fins; sides of the tail carinated ; and numerous small teeth. The 
pilot-fish, Nauerates ductor (pl. 83, fig. 6), belongs to this genus. The 
pilot-fish, as is well known, possesses the curious propensity of following in 
the wake of large masses in the water, whether these be vessels or large 
marine animals. Instances have occurred of their following ships during a 
voyage of eighty or more days. Their attendance upon the shark has 
been supposed to be for the purpose of giving warning to their less vigilant 
or less acute companion, of the dangers to which it may be exposed. The 
interest, however, is probably, in both cases, that of protection against 
enemies and starvation. The genus Coryphena, has a compressed 
elongated body, and a head with a globular outline; eyes low, near the 
angle of the mouth ; dorsal fin rising from the cranium, and extending to 
the tail, diminishing in elevation posteriorly. This genus, including the 
fishes generally known as dolphins, and celebrated for their beauty, are 
mostly inhabitants of mid-ocean, being rarely found off the coasts. Cory- 
phena hippuris (pl. 84, fig. 2) is a well known companion of vessels, and 
greatly celebrated for the beautifu! play of colors which it exhibits when 
dying. The dolphins are extremely voracious, and are conspicuous 
enemies of the flying-fish; it is also noted for the extreme velocity of its 
motions, a characteristic, however, of nearly all the Scombride. Several 
species occur off the American coast, where, however, C. hippuris has not 
yet been observed. The genus Temnodon, with the general port of a true 
mackerel, is more compressed, and has the second dorsal higher and longer 
than the anterior dorsal, and with the anal covered by small scales. The 
most striking characteristic lies in the possession of a single row, in each 
jaw, of large, distinct, compressed, and very sharp teeth, which give quite a 
forrnidable feature to the fish. The principal species is T. saltator, the 
blue-fish of the northern American waters, the tailor or skip-jack of those 
more southern. It is much esteemed both by the angler and the epicure. 
The genus Zeus has an oval compressed body, a protractile mouth, and the 
dorsal spines with long filaments, as the most striking characteristic. 
Zeus faber (pl. 81, fig. 10) is the well known dory, or John Dory, a 
European species much esteemed by epicures. It has a large round black 
spot on each side, ascribed by popular superstition to the marks of St. 
Peter’s thumb, when he took the tribute money out of its mouth. In some 
parts of Europe it is called “king of the herrings,” from the fact of its 
accompanying these fish for the purpose of feeding upon them. 
The family of Seuamirennes is readily known by the dorsal and anal 
fins, especially the soft portion, being covered with scales. The body is 
compressed, and more or less oval or rhomboidal. Teeth setigerous, or 
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