BONI TO, a name common to several fishes of the mackerel family, or scomberalm (q.v.). One of these, thynnuspelamys, sometimes called the stripe-bellied ninny. and of the same genus with the tunny (q.v.), is well known to sailors as an inhabitant of trop ical seas, and as one of the fishes most frequently seen pursuing the flying-tish. It is often taken by an imitation flying-fish made to skim along and touch the waves. Its flesh, although relished by those who have been previously confined to salt provisions, is dry. It is occasionally but rarely caught on the British coasts. It is a very beautiful fish, seldom exceeding 30 in. in length, of a beautiful steel-blue color, darker on the back, and whitish below. Four dark lines extend along each side of the belly. The general form resembles that of the mackerel, but is less compressed.—The B. of the Mediterranean (pelamys sarda) is a fish very similar to this, but Of an allied genus, dis tinguished by its comparatively large and strong teeth. It has dark transverse bars
reaching from the ridge of the back to the lateral line. It is plentiful in the Black sea. plain B. @axis vulgaris or A. roe/lean:0 may be distinguished at once from both of these by its more uniform blue color, without stripes or bands, and by the widely separated dorsal fins. It has only one row of minute teeth in each jaw. It is found in the Mediterranean, and in some places seems to bear, in common with the last-men tioned species, the name bonito. Its flesh is little esteemed when fresh; it is generally used either salted or pickled. Like mackerel, it putrefies rapidly, unless means are used for its preservation. ' This fish has been occasionally caught on the coast of England, and one was taken in summer 1839, in aherring-net, oil the coast of Banffshire.—Another species of auxin, a native of the West Indian seas, equals the tunny in size.