266 PERCOIDES. 



the scorpaena is first drawn from the water, the 

 top of the aesophagus may be distinctly observed ; 

 the gills are blo»ted, the fins spread, and the writh- 

 ing of its body, and snapping of its jaws, to- 

 gether with the singular appearance of its wrinkled, 

 loose skin, apparently much too large for the body, 

 actually shock the spectator. 



There are infinitely more marvellous animal for- 

 mations in the ocean than on the land ; in some 

 instances the departure from the ordinary laws 

 of symmetry is exceedingly striking. In this 

 case, we involuntarily associate the idea of hor- 

 rible propensities, and actually excite a tremor of 

 nervous disgust, by the mere power of imagina- 

 tion. 



Scorpcena Scrofa, — having cirri under the 

 eyes, and dangling from the lateral line, are some- 

 times taken in fishing in very deep water. All 

 the specimens we have seen prove conclusively 

 that they plough through the mud in search of 

 shells, cuttle-fish, sea-eggs, as they are called, and 

 the like kinds of food, and it is not improbable, 

 that the leaves which float about the body so con- 

 ceal it, that the appearance is that of a roll of 

 weeds, — thus enabling the scorpaena more cer- 

 tainly and effectually to steal upon its prey. 



