TUNNY. 
101 
Iu October, 1843, a specimen became stranded in the 
shallows off Saltholm in the Sound, and of this spe- 
cimen the Royal Museum has acquired the left sub- 
operculum, which measures 305 mm. along the free 
part (not covered by the operculum and interoperculum) 
of the hind margin, a scale from the corslet and se- 
veral fin-rays, all described by Sundevall (1. c,.). The 
size of the suboperculum shows that the fish Avas 
about 269 or 273 cm. (8 ft. 7 in. or 8 ft. 9 in.) in 
length. 
As appears from the list of synonyms, the Tunny 
is also knoAvn not only in the W. Indies ( Thynnus 
coretta), and on the coast of Massachusetts {Tit. secunclo- 
dor salts), but also in Japan ( Th. orient alls) and Australia 
{Tit. tliymms , McCoy). 
The Tunny is an active and voracious fish, but in 
spite of its great size very timid. When the Rat's, the 
master of the madrague, Avants to drive the Tunnies 
in the depths of the madrague from chamber to cham- 
ber, he drops a handful of sand into the Avater, and 
the fishes dart aAvay, says Cetti, as though the sky 
had fallen on them. If this expedient does not succeed, 
especially when he has to drive them into the chamber 
of death, he lets doAvn a black sheep-skin, Avhich seldom 
fails to do its Avork. The sailor may often see his 
vessel folloAved for long distances by Tunnies seeking 
its shadoAv. No doubt the fish snap up Avhatever is 
throAvn to them and bite freely at a hook baited Avith 
Herring or something of the kind, at least so long as 
there is any Avay on the vessel; but they follow it so 
persistently even Avithout these allurements that it has 
been suggested as the lpost probable explanation of 
their conduct that they endeavour to hide from their 
enemies, chiefly from the Sharks. In the Mediterranean, 
too, it is said that, Avhen frightened, they try to con- 
ceal themselves in the seaweed. Still the Tunny pur- 
sues its own victims rapidly and eagerly. These consist 
principally of Herrings or, in the Mediterranean, An- 
chovies and Sardines, Mackerel, Flying-fish, Sauries 
and Garpike. It is interesting to see hoAv the Flying- 
fish endeavour to escape its attack: the Tunny folloAvs 
them during their flight, but does not leap out of the 
Avater in pursuit of them as it does Avhen it chases the 
Sauries. 
The spawning-season of the Tunny is in summer. 
In April and the beginning of May, Avhen the Tunny- 
fishing first begins in Italy, one can scarcely distinguish 
the eggs in the ovaries, Avhich at this time weigh about 
4 l / i kgrm. in large specimens, whereas some days after 
in specimens of equal size they Aveigh about 42 x / 2 kgrm. 
before they are fully ripened". In the middle of June 
the Tunnies, driven by instinct to propagate their spe- 
cies, may be seen incessantly leaping and swimming 
about in the bays and laying their eggs among the 
seaweed, where they are fecundated by the males. 
“When the Tunnies sport round the females in burn- 
ing desire,” says Risso 6 , “they are bright with a blaze 
of shifting colours; their Avhole body is covered Avith 
golden spots, which vanish at the end of the spaAvning- 
season.” In the month of July the neAvly hatched fry 
Aveigh about 42 gm., in August 113 gm., and in Oc- 
tober they have reached a Aveigh t of 848 gm. 
a According to Duke C. d’Amico of Ossacla, quoted by Cuvier, (Cuv., Val., 1. c., p. 84). 
b Eur. Mer., 1. c., p. 418. 
