plumier's coryppiene. % 15 



than truly distinct. It seems to have been first de- 

 scribed by Marcgrave, who informs us that it is 

 known to the Brasilians by the name of Guam- 

 capema, that it grows to the length of six or seven 

 feet, and is of a silvery green colour on the head 

 and upper parts, variegated with numerous blue 

 spots of different sizes, but all rather small than 

 large, and that the belly is of a whitish colour. He 

 adds that it is a very swift swimmer, and is con^ 

 sidered as an excellent fish for the table. 



plumier's coryphene. 



Coryphaena Plumieri. C. subfusca, lineis curvis cceruleis variata, 



subtus argentea, cauda hinata. 

 Brownish Coryphene, variegated with curved blue lines 5 



beneath silvery, with crescent-shaped tail. 

 Coryphaena Plumieri. C. pinna: analis radiis quinquaginta quia-' 



que. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel. p. 1191. Block, pi. 175. 



This elegant species takes its title from the cele- 

 brated Father Plumier, who appears to have been 

 its first describer. It is a native of the American 

 seas, and in its general form is much allied to the 

 common Coryphene, but the head is longer in 

 proportion : the general colour of the fish is bright 

 yellow, with a silvery cast on the abdomen ; while 

 the back is brown, variegated with pretty numerous 

 and somewhat irregular blue streaks, forming so 

 many transverse bars on that part of the animal : 

 the fins are yellow, the tail crescent-shaped and 



