Ar.VNTHOPTERI OR SPINE-FINN ED FISHES. 



267 



like the Sticklebacks (Fig. 293), are very small, being 

 only one, two, or three inches in length ; others, like the 

 Breams and Perch, Figs. 333 and 332, are six to twelve 

 inches in length ; and from these they are of all sizes up 

 to the Tunnies of the ocean, which attain the weight of a 

 thousand pounds or more. 



Some kinds of spine-tinned fishes are beautiful in form ; 

 others, as, for example, the Toad-fishes and Fishing-frogs, or 

 Lophidse, of the ocean, are exceedingly ugly (Figs. 315-6). 



Some kinds, as the Lamp-fishes or Cyclopteridse, have 

 a curious and strange structure. These fishes have their 

 ventrals united into a disk 

 or cup-shaped form. By 

 means of this disk, they 

 are able to attach them- 

 selves to the surface of the 

 rocks with great firmness. 

 Pennant states that, upon 



putting one into a pail of Lump-fish, (Adopter us, Linnsm*. 



water, it adhered to the bottom so firmly that he lifted 

 the whole pailful by taking hold of the fish by the tail. 

 They inhabit the Atlantic, and are about a foot long. 



FIG. 318. 



FIG. 317. 



Dolphin, Coryphcena doradon, Cuvier and Valenciennes. 



Some kinds are beautiful, mainly in form ; and others, 

 like the Dolphin (Fig. 318), have colors which rival in 

 beauty and splendor the colors of the rainbow. 



