ECHENEIS LINE ATA. 103 



and lower jaw are white, and from the tip of the latter runs a dark horizontal 

 band along the median plane to the tail, interrupted only at the eye and at the 

 pectoral fin ; above this is a narrow band of clouded yellow, which begins at the 

 upper jaw, and passes above the pectoral, and is of the same extent ; below the 

 dark band is another of sulphur-colour, which begins near the angle of the mouth, 

 and is continued to the root of the caudal fin, and beneath this latter band is still 

 another, very narrow, though of equal extent and of pale gray colour ; the abdo- 

 men is milky white, and this colour, though much clouded, is continued along the 

 root of the anal fin ; the dorsal, anal, and ventral fins have a bluish or purplish 

 tint ; the former has the tips of its six or seven anterior rays Avhite ; the caudal is 

 bluish, with the upper and lower margins white. 



Dimensions. The head is nearly one fifth of the entire length ; the elevation is 

 half a head ; total length, two feet. 



Splanchnology. The liver is large ; it consists of two lobes united below by a broad, thin portion, so 

 that the division into lobes is only seen on its dorsal surface ; it is thick in front, but its posterior 

 margin is thin and irregular. The gall-bladder is very long, olive-shaped, pale green, and with 

 very thick walls ; it is placed on the left of the right lobe, and is entirely detached from it. The 

 stomach is elongated, conical, pointed behind, and reaches to the posterior fourth of the abdomen ; 

 its muscular walls are rather thin, and there are numerous folds on its mucous surface ; its pyloric 

 portion is exceedingly short, and is very near the diaphragm. The small intestine runs nearly to 

 the vent, and then returns to the pylorus, whence it is reflected to end in the rectum, which is short 

 and has a rather prominent valve. All these organs are united by cellular tissue. There are 

 seven coscal appendages, varying in length from half an inch to an inch and a half, and all are 

 slender. The spleen is small, long, sub-triquetrous in form, and is placed on the right side of the 

 stomach. The testicles are long and slender, and open by a common duct behind the vent. The 

 kidneys are large in front, separated in the middle, and unite again behind by a thin layer ; the 

 urinary bladder is large. 



Habits. The habits of this fish are very singular, for by means of its oval disk 

 it can produce a vacuum, and thus attach itself to other objects, and be carried 

 from place to place without any exertion of its own ; and it is often found adhering 

 to the bottoms of ships or boats, or to the bodies of sharks or other fishes. There 

 can be no doubt, however, that it also roams about by itself in search of food, as 

 it is not unfrequently taken with Black-fish, and is attracted by the same bait. 



