MACKERELS. 
127 
and these are commonly described as equalled in 
delicacy, brilliancy, and variety only by the co- 
lours of the rainbow. The changing tints of 
a dying Dolphin,” are in every mouth, as a cur- 
rent proverbial phrase. We have had the op- 
portunity of witnessing the death of an Atlantic 
Coryphene, in which the phenomena displayed 
were of quite another kind than we had supposed. 
We had expected that, as it died, opaline flashes 
would fleet over the skin ; but what really oc- 
curred was this : when brought out of the water 
it was silvery-grey, with pearly reflections, but 
in a few minutes after it had lain on deck, the 
whole body suddenly changed to a brilliant green, 
(a permanent, not an iridescent colour,) the back 
dark, the belly yellower, almost like gold, with 
blue spots ; this was the only change^ except that 
the hue became more dingy after death. Alive, 
and in their native element, as we have already 
observed, these Ashes are very beautiful; gene- 
rally appearing (judging from our own observa- 
tion) in parties of five or six, they play around 
the ship, sometimes at the surface, and then far 
down in the clear depths below. When they turn 
in the water, their backs are dark one moment, 
and the next gleam like polished silver, or mother- 
of pearl. 
To this group belongs also the Genus Pteraclis, 
remarkable for the great height of the dorsal 
and anal fins, as represented on page 55 of this 
volume. 
Such are the groups of the great Mackerel 
Family, one of the most numerous in species, and 
most varied in form of the whole Class, and com- 
prising some of the most beautiful of all fishes, 
