103 
bladder ; pyloric appendages in increased number ; 
the abdominal and caudal portions of the vertebral 
column composed of numerous vertebrae. 
“ Inhabitants of the seas between the tropics, ex- 
tending on to those of the temperate regions.” 
THTESITES. 
formed bj Cuvier and Yalenciemes on a curious elongate 
fish. The sorts of this genus are not numerous ; one is found in 
the Mediterranean Sea, and extends to Madeira, where a second 
sort is also met ; another, Lepidopoides, inhabits the coast of 
Brazils ; one the East Indies ; and two are described as found in 
the Australian Seas. One of these is unknown to me iSolandri ) , 
the other is very common in the Sti’aits of Bass, particularly 
during the cold months of the year ; this sort is also found 
in great quantity at the Cape of Grood Hope, where it bears the 
name of Snoelc. In that Colony it appears in the beginning of 
August, becomes very abundant in September, and disappears 
a few months after ; it is considered the best fish of the country. 
THTESITES ATUH. 
Scomber atun, EupJirasen, Yetensk. Acad., v. xii. 
Thyrsites atun, Guv. ^ Val., Poissons, v. viii., p. 196, pi. 219. 
altivelis, Picliard., Proceed. Zool. Soc., 1839, p. 99. 
(The Barracutad) 
The Australian fish appears to mo to be entirely similar to the 
Cape specimens, and I don’t doubt that this sort inhabits all the 
Antarctic Seas. It is of a dark silvery colour, with the upper 
parts of an obscure blue ; eye yellow r the dorsal variegated with 
black and white. 
Very common at certain seasons, and much esteemed as food. 
The Thirsites Altivelis seems to have been established errone- 
ously ; in all the Australian specimens, I find the longest ray of 
the dorsal much lower than the body, and also only six pinnuke. 
In some cases, particularly in old specimens, the last ray (or 
rays) of the second dorsal detaches itself from the others, and 
takes the appearance of a seventh 
