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tinguished from those other fish called Daurades, which we 

 have already had occasion to notice. 



The Coryphaena, or dorado, which the ancients, according 

 to the report of Athenaeus, consecrated to Venus, is very 

 voracious. It pursues incessantly, the exoceti and flying fish, 

 forces them to shoot out of the water, and receives them, as it 

 were, in its throat the moment they fall back after their short 

 passage in the air. It is sometimes observed even to quit its 

 native element, and raise itself entirely out of the water, to 

 possess itself of a prey which is on the point of escaping. 



Fishes of this species, which are not very precise in their 

 choice of food, are also frequently seen swimming in large 

 troops around vessels to seize upon every thing which falls 

 into the sea. One has been seen, whose stomach contained 

 iron nails, one of which was five inches and a half in length. 



The best bait which can be used to take the coryphaena is 

 the flying fish, and it is often sufficient to represent it rudely 

 with a piece of wood or cork, to which white feathers are 

 attached in the form of wings. During the spawning time in 

 spring and autumn, these fishes are taken with nets near the 

 shore, towards which they proceed to deposit or to fecundate 

 their eggs. In the other seasons, when they prefer the open 

 sea, long lines are employed. 



Their growth is very rapid, and they are observed promptly 

 to increase to a large size in the ponds in which they are shut 

 up, when they are taken alive. Their flesh is firm and of 

 an agreeable flavour. 



For the table, those of the Mediterranean are more in request 

 than those of the Ocean, and those which live in the sea, than 

 those which enter into salt marshes. They are commonly eaten 

 at Languedoc during Lent, and the best are those of Cette. 



Tliny counsels those who have been poisoned by honey of 

 a bad quality to eat of this fish. 



