196 COMBER. 



fish; for, although wholesome, and even delicate for the table, 

 their inferior size causes them to be little valued. Their usual 

 food appears to be the smaller crustacean animals and small 

 fishes; but I have found Ophiurse (Slender Snake Star-fishes) 

 and encrusting corrallines (Lepralige) in their stomach. 



A supposition of ancient date was, that the males and 

 females of this species were united in one, or were hermaph- 

 rodites; but although the structure of the ovaries oflTers some 

 peculiarities, there is reason to believe that the sexes are 

 distinct as in other fishes. Professor Owen was not able to 

 discover anything but the grains of spawn in these organs, 

 as they were sent to him for examination with a microscope; 

 and I have no doubt of having myself distinctly seen the 

 existence of a separate milt. There is, however, some peculiarity 

 in these organs, for at that portion of the ovary where it 

 enters the duct that conveys the spawn or milt, there is a 

 small bag-like sac, and at the outlet of the passage from 

 whence the roe is discharged, an organ, which, under ordi- 

 nary circumstances, has its orifice turned inward; but on 

 pressing the body the direction of the part is reversed and 

 the outlet is rendered capable of conveying the discharge to 

 the distance of half an inch. AVhen the pressure is removed 

 this organ resumes a twisted shape, and returns to its situation 

 within the body. Late in the spring and in the summer I 

 have found the spawn running freely from one ovary, and 

 nearly as much advanced in the other, thus shewing that the 

 process is not ended within a very small duration. 



This fish also obtained notice in ancient times, from the 

 fact that its death was always attended with a spasm which 

 caused its fins to stand erect and its mouth to be widely 

 open. I have never met with more than a single instance in 

 which the contrary to this was the case, and from this pecu- 

 liarity it was that among the Greeks it obtained the name of 

 Chanee and Channos, or the Gaper. Some writers indeed are 

 persuaded that this habit of gaping is natural to it at all 

 times, and that it is produced by the structure of the jaws; 

 but there is no doubt that this latter supposition is built on 

 a mistake, and that when alive the mouth is closed as in 

 other fishes. 



In reference to this fish and the S. scriha, it may create 



