284 PERCOIDES. 



ed as one of peculiar ugliness. Its hea pis in 

 shape like a square block, being larger than all 

 the remainder of the body, having protuberant 

 eyes on the top, looking nearly upward ; the low- 

 er jaw juts out beyond the upper, giving the idea 

 of a grinning expression ; on each side, over the 

 shoulders, is a strong spine ; the fins are small, 

 compared with its other dimensions, — and the 

 anal is prolonged, soft and greasy to the touch.* 



Though it is only about one foot long, the di- 

 ameter of the head, through the articulations of 

 the jaws, is five inches, in a living state. The 

 color borders on a dirty gray, and is considerably 



* "Nothing is made in vain, " 



In the year 1825, a vessel from Europe, bound to Quebec, 

 struck against some loose ice, in consequence of which she 

 sprung a leak, somewhere below water, which entered so 

 fast as almost to defy the utmost exertions of the crew to keep 

 the hold clear. Just as they were on the point of taking to 

 the boats for safety, the leak was discovered to have sudden- 

 ly stopped ; and getting the ascendency, by renewed efforts, 

 the pumps were found to suck. Every person on board was 

 astonished, nor could they account for the very sudden check 

 given to the great force with which the water had entered 

 but a moment before. A few days after brought them into 

 port, where, on examination, a large hole was found beaten 

 through the plank, in which was alive fish, exactly filling the 

 orifice, and this saved the ship. It was supposed that the fish 

 was sucked in by the water, rushing into the hull, and being 

 too large to pass through, and unable to extricate itself, there 

 remained till liberated by its grateful benefactors. 



