88 Mr. Covcn on the Natural History 
were not visible before. It adheres with some degree of 
force. When the tide retires, this fish sometimes takes 
refuge under a stone. 
Another species, which I do not recollect to have seen 
noticed, is not uncommon about low-water mark, where it 
hides under stones. The head is broad and flat, sloping 
from behind the eyes to the mouth. The body tapers from 
the pectoral fins to the tail; it is smooth, a dusky-yellow 
on the back and sides, the belly white; it has a row of 
white points along the lateral line, and also about the head 
and mouth, which secrete mucus. "Thirteen tubercles form 
the sucking apparatus; but I could never get this fish to 
adhere to any substance. The tail is round ; the dorsal and 
anal fins long, the former beginning just above the pectoral 
fins, the latter at the abdominal tubercles, and both run 
to the tail; which part, with the dorsal and anal fins, is 
crossed by dark bars. When this fish rests, it has a singu- 
lar custom of throwing its tail forwards toward the head. It 
rarely exceeds an inch in length *. 
TETRAODON. 
Oblong Sunfish. T. truncatus.—Naturalists have been divided 
in their endeavours to account for the name of the Sunfish ; 
but the appearance of the common Sunfish when in the water 
or newly taken, is sufficient to account for it. At this time 
the surface of the body has a bright and glittering appear- 
ance, as if coated with tin-foil; but in a short time after 
death this passes off. 
* This is probably a variety of C. liparis. 
- CENTRISCUS. 
