PISCPS. 
107 
abundant. It forms a considerable portion of the poor man’s food, 
and is a fish common to tropical seas. 
Scomber, Art. 
*S. colias, Gm. — This species of Mackerel is peculiar to the 
North Atlantic, where almost any quantity may be taken from 
shallow or deep water throughout the year, though sometimes it 
is more plentiful than at others. It is excellent eating, being quite 
as fine as the English mackerel, and forms one of the chief articles of 
food with the natives of St. Helena. 
Thynnus, C. & V. 
T. thynnus ?, Linn. — There are three varieties of albicore, called 
respectively the Long Fin, the Bastard, and the Coffrey, which con- 
stitute one of the chief articles of food with the residents. It is the 
same as the Tunny-fish of the Mediterranean. At St. Helena it 
inhabits deep water, and is taken by means of hook and line through- 
out the year, many of them being as large as 3 or 4 cwt. in weight. 
It is in the winter months that they are most plentiful. It is 
well known in that part of the world as “ St. Helena beef,” and 
I have known people to praise the excellence of “ the veal 
cutlets” after having partaken of fried albicore ! It is curiously 
sold in the market at so much per cut, three or four pence suffic- 
ing to secure a cut or slice weighing several pounds. There are 
various ways of cooking and making it very palatable, and for a 
curry there is no better substitute. 
Eclieneis, Art. 
E. naucrates, Linn. — The Sucking-fish, peculiar to the tropics, is 
sometimes taken at St. Helena, adhering to sharks, sun-fish, and other 
deep-water creatures, but is not used for food. 
Fam. Frichiuridce. 
Thyrsites, C. & Y. 
T. prometheus, C.& V. — Also a Madeira fish, and at St. Helena 
called the Night Serpent. Fishermen speak of two kinds of serpent- 
fish, that which they catch at night being black, and that during the 
day brown in colour. They are not eaten. 
Fam . Pediculati. 
Antennarius, Commers. 
A. pinniceps, C. & V. — A small fish, striped with brown like a 
