SCT^Vt. 
57 
one in that neighbourhood in one of the years above referred 
to; and Professor Nilsson records it as having been once 
taken on the coast of Sweden, which was in December, 1852, 
and so much later than it was seen in the British Channel, 
although in the same season. Long before this also an example 
IS mentioned by Dr. Fleming, as having been taken so far 
north as the islands of Zetland. Little is known of the dis- 
tinctive history of the Scimna, beyond its fearless character 
and occasional propensity to wander, with eagerness in swallowing 
its food. For the table it is greatly valued, and in ancient 
times was more so even than at present; so that in Rome, 
even before the time of its highest luxury, the head and 
neighbouring parte were reserved for people of the greatest 
distinction. 
The example described was one of two caught by fishermen 
of Polperro in the month of October; its length five feet, and 
weight fifty-eight pounds. The form is not much unlike that 
of the Bass, but rather more bulky; head rather short; the 
body moderately compressed, beeoming more slender towards 
the tad. Head and body covered with scales, those of the 
body large, one of the latter that was separated measuring an 
inch and a quarter in breadth. The jaws equal; teeth fine, 
those in front shorter, and with an interruption at the symphysis 
of the jaw; eye moderately large; lateral line with a small 
curve in its progress. Dorsal fins two, the first wdth spinous 
rays, the second longer and lower; anal fin short; the tail 
even. Colour behind the head a sparkling green; back a 
bright copper; belly bright silvery; a fleshy gland-like substance 
at the root of the pectoral fin a fine brown. According to 
Risso the colours in the Mediterranean are even more brilliant 
than I found them, the head being variegated with golden, 
light blue, and pinkish purple, (amethystine,) with the fins 
yellow, black, and silvery. The example described by Nilsson 
was a silver grey, the back blackish, white below; fins reddish 
brown; length five feet, and the weight seventy-two pounds. 
The number of rays in the fins has been counted with some 
diflcrence. In the first dorsal there are ten; in the second 
twenty-four and twenty-nine; ventral six, of which the first is 
spinous; anal one or ttvo spinous, and the remainder eight: 
pectoral from fifteen to seventeen; caudal eighteen or nineteen 
VOL. II. I 
