1S3 



LAMPRIS. 



The body deep in proportion to the length; the side ridged as it 

 approaches the tail. Snout short; gape narrow; teeth small or none. 

 Dorsal and anal fins single, and much extended on the fore part; tail 

 forked. Ten long rays in the ventral fins, which are placed far back 

 on the belly. 



OPAH. 



Zeus luna, Turton's Linn^us. 



Chrysostose liine, Lacepede. 



Lam^ris guttatus, Cuvier, 



" luna, Fleming; Br. Animals, p. 219. 



" " Donovan; pi. 97. Jenyns; Manual, p. 369. 



" " Yarrell; Br. Fishes, vol. i, p. 194. 



" *' Gunther; Cat. Br. Museum, vol. ii. 



This fish — of remarkable shape and gorgeous colours — remained 

 unknown to the students of nature until comparatively modern 

 times; but Nilsson informs us that it has been taken off the 

 coast of Norway titne out of mind, and in that country it bears 

 the name of Laxetoye, or the Large Salmon, under which name 

 it was described by Peder Claussen in the year 1632, the 

 example which was the subject of his observations being of 

 the weight of one hundred and forty pounds. It will serve as 

 an apology for the popular mistake in referring this fish to a 

 family which differs from it so considerably, to mention that 

 ^ Parnell, as referred to by Mr. Yarrell, informs us of an 

 example which was washed ashore near North Queensferry, in 

 July, 1835, and it was found by those who ate it to have its 

 flesh red, and as good as that of a Salmon, which it also much 

 resembled in flavour. It has also been sufficiently known in 

 Scandinavia to have acquired the native name of Glansfisk. 



Its discovery in England is of later date; and as there was 



