24 FISHES. 



shore, while the latter are fish of passage, accessible 

 only for a short time. In similar depths, and in less, 

 but where the ground is often found to be more 

 broken, other species of Scomber, the Caranx, with 

 Centronotus, Lepidolepes, Trigla, Centropomus, 

 Holocentrum, Scarus, Bodianus and Tetragonurus 

 reside ; where the ground shoals still more and offers 

 soft muddy bottoms, we find the favorite repose of 

 stationary fishes, those who with their broad fins, 

 rather fly than swim, are mostly destitute of air blad- 

 ders and by nature burrow beneath the soil, such as 

 all the Rays and Plearonectus, Congers, Lophii, 

 Cepolae, and on firmer bottoms, Cyclopteri, Blennies, 

 Zei, and Ammodytes. 



Within twenty-five fathoms water, where the 

 power of the sun and the action of the tides begins 

 to admit the growth of submarine vegetation, where 

 Algaj, Cauhnese, Ulvae, Confervse, and Zoophytes, 

 support numerous submarine animals, the genera 

 Ophidium, Stromateus, Murcena, Uranoscopus, Tra- 

 chinus, Scorpcena, Peristedion, Labrus, Sparus, Lab- 

 rax, Esox, Murenophis, &c., chiefly resort; and 

 more in shore among the tide rocks, naked or 

 covered with weeds, are Syngnathi, Centrisci, smaller 

 Bleunii, Gobii, Batrachi, and Notopteri. Among the 

 stony and sandy flats of similar depth are met Lepa- 

 dogastri, Callyonimi, Lepidopides, Gymnetri,Osmeri, 

 Scomberesoces, Argentinse, and Atherinse. These 

 with small Pleuronectes, and the fry of many others 

 frequent the brackish waters of estuaries, and the 

 young fish descend only into deeper seas when they 

 are sufficiently strong to separate from the clouds of 

 conglomerated thousands whicji are constantly seen 

 liovering about sandy shoals in tropical seas.* 



• * The authorities for the above general view were drawn, 1st, 

 from personal researches on the west coast of Africa, on the east 

 coast of South America, Trinidad, St. Lucia, Donriinica, Barbar 

 does, Martinique, St. Vincent, Curacoa, Jamaica, Honduras Bay, 

 Golfo dolce, the Gulf stream, the coasts of the United States, the 



