THE FILE-FISHES. 417 



CHAPTER XXIII. THE FILE-FISHES. 



In this order, the bones of the body are not completely 

 hardened. The gill-openings are small, and in one family 

 the jaws terminate in a kind of beak. 



The name of the curious and unprepossessing File-fish 



has reference to the serrated edge of the dorsal spine, as 



-ci-7^ -R -u well as to the manner in which the fish can 

 File-nsn or 



Trigger- elevate it at will. It is by no means common 

 ^ ' in British seas, where it has been taken 



measuring i6 inches. Its colour is yellowish. 



[An allied species is thought to have been taken at 

 Polperro.] 



Not unlike the hideous and poisonous Australian " Toad- 

 fish," our Globe-fish, which is taken at irregular intervals 

 in these waters, has the same unpleasant habit 

 of distending its body when irritated, as well 

 as the same reputation for tenacity of life. The blue of 

 the back presents a sharp contrast with the white of the 

 sides and belly, the latter being covered with star-shaped 

 spines. The jaws terminate in a beak. 



The huge basking Short Sunfish is not uncommon in our 

 seas, where it has been taken weighing as much as 5 cwt. 

 Short and measuring fully 5 feet. I have seen the 

 Sunfish. dorsal fin of this fish cruising about off the 

 Lizard. It is known at times to display great activity, 

 and even to leap out of the water. It feeds on small 

 crustaceans. 



The rarer Oblong Sunfish has smoother skin and is less 

 Oblong deep in the body. The dorsal and anal fins 

 Sunfish. i[q farther back than in the last. It does 

 not bask. 



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