THE , 
COMMON MACKREL. 
GENERIC CHARACTER. 
Body oblong, smooth, sometimes carlnated by 
the lateral line. 
Finlets (in most species) above and below, to- 
wards the tail. 
SPECIFIC CHARACTER, ^c. 
Blue Mackrel, with numerous transverse black 
lines, silvery abdomen, and five finlets 
above and below. 
Common MackreL 
Penn. Brit. ZooL 
Gen. ZooL 4. p. 577. 
The Common Mackrel, which may be considered 
as one of the most beautiful of fishes, is a native of 
the European and American seas ; generally appearing 
at stated seasons, and swarming round particular 
coasts. It is most plentiful in the northern seas^ 
where it grows to a larger size than elsewhere. The 
long migrations of the Mackrel, described by some wri- 
ters, seem at present to be considered as extremely 
dou' ttul y and it is rather supposed that the shoals 
whi' h appear in such vast abundrmre round the more 
tentj ernte coasts of Europe in ti e spring season, weie 
in 'ea'itv at no ^reat distance during the winter; 
hp^mg nTerp]v in.mcrsed themselves in the deep and 
soft n ud ; fr( m which they arise in a state of restored 
activity when the frosts are passed. 
