PELAMII). 
1U3 
Rafinesque says it is caught in considerable numbers in Sicily 
in the spring by those who fish for the Tunny; and both himself 
and Risso speak favourably of its excellency as food. But 
common as it seems at times to be, it must be a wary fish as 
well as active; for whilst some others of its family not unfre- 
quently become entangled in floating nets, it is very seldom 
that the Pelamid falls into this misfortune; and in two instances 
only has it been known to have been taken in Britain. One 
of these was so far north as Montrose; where it was recognised 
hy William Beattie, Esq., and when preserved afforded a portrait 
to the second Supplement to Mr. Yarrell’s History of British 
Pishes. Another example, from which our figure and description 
are taken, was caught at Swanage, in Dorsetshire, on the 4th. 
of December, 1860; for which I am indebted to the kindness 
of the Rev. J. M. Colson, who thus has placed it in my power 
to give a representation of a recent British example in its native 
colours. 
The specimen described measured no more than fourteen 
inches, but it has been found to reach about a couple of feet 
in length; the shape in general resembling the Common Mackarel, 
hut with a sharper and more lengthened snout; from which the 
outline rises to the first dorsal fin; the body round and plump 
to the second dorsal; from which it becomes much more slender 
as It approaches the tail; the base of which is round and strong. 
Under jaw longest, teeth numerous, large, loosely set, and re- 
curved; two larger than the others on each side of the median 
line. Teeth at the root of the tongue in the middle, and two 
lines of them diverging posteriorly, one on each side of the 
palate ; the gape large, extending back to the plane of the centre 
of the eye; the last-named organ small and bright, placed at 
nhout two thirds of the distance between the angle of the jaw 
nnd top of the head, and an inch and one eighth from the snout. 
Ihe corset is formed of coarser scales than appear on any other 
part of the body; the lateral line forms a small arch at first, 
with the corset, and then passes straight back to the tail, ending 
in a prominent keel. The first dorsal fin rises just above the 
pectoral, and three inches and a half from the snout; extending 
liack near to the second dorsal; the first rays longest, but 
afterwards they gradually decrease in elevation; number Oi rays 
twenty-two, the spines stout and strong; second dorsal membranous 
