97 
BONITO. 
Scomber Pelamis, 
Thynnus Pelamis, 
“ t< 
Scombre Ponite, 
<■ u 
LrNN-«tTS. 
Cdvier. Jentos ; Manual, p. 363. 
Yaurell; Br. Fishes, vol. i, p. 157. 
Lacepede. Eisso. 
Gdkther; Catalogue Br. Museum, 
vol. ii, p. 364. 
Tuts species is one of those which was in ancient times 
confounded with the Tunny, and for which, therefore, fisheries 
were established as for that fish. Different representations are 
made as regards its excellency as food, and Risso pronounces 
good; but it is probable that it varies according to the 
■‘season. 
But pursued as it is by the arts of man, it is still more a 
pursuer after those fishes it is able to overcome; the greater 
portion of which are such as we suppose the most difficult to 
be overtaken; but its swiftness, which we judge from its 
structure to exceed even that of the Tunny, renders it fully 
equal to the task. The Bonito therefore excites a larger amount 
of interest from the accounts given us by sailors, who have 
observed its actions in the wide expanse of ocean near and 
within the tropics; where it is found in abundance, and is 
often seen to spring aloft in pursuit of the flying fish, whic 
it has driven into the air as a last resource of safety. Some 
thing like this also not unfrequently occurs in summer on the 
western coasts of England; where this fish and some others of 
the same family are often seen in pursuit of the Saury or 
Skopster; the chase of which presents an amusing spectacle 
by its leaping into the air, in the vain hope of seizing those 
which in that element at least are more than a match for its 
VOL. ti. 
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