88 Mr. Couch 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. 



