Coryphene

Coryphene (Coryphæna), a genus of bony fishes, remarkable for the brilliancy of their colours. They are nearly allied to mackerels, belonging to the same family, Scombridae. For some not very evident reason they are often popularly called 'dolphins.' The body is somewhat elongated, and is laterally compressed; the scales are very small; the head of the adults bears a sharp crest. The colours of silver, blue, and yellow have great beauty and metallic brilliancy, whether the fish be darting with extreme rapidity in the sunlit water, or lie dying on the shore. Apart from their marvellous beauty, the coryphenes are well known for their habit of pursuing shoals of flying-fish. Sailors often catch them with a glittering bit of metal for bait. They are frequently seen in the Mediterranean (four species), and also in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. The most familiar species is Coryphæna hippurus.