42 MEMOIR OP RONDELET. 



is a kind of membrane rising from the inner part 

 of the gums and folded in the mouth, which, unless 

 carefully examined, will not appear separated from 

 the maxilla. The teeth are large, acute, and curved, 

 not only placed in each jaw, but likewise fixed to 

 the two palatal bones, and also to the root of the 

 tongue. The eyes on the upper side of the head, 

 looking sidewise, are encircled with spines ; in front 

 of them are two slender white appendages, of a 

 disagreeable smell, if we may believe Oppian, with 

 which the animal most skilfully allures and captures 

 other fishes as with a bait ; a fact proved, not only 

 by the most weighty testimony of Aristotle, but 

 also by the experience of many fishermen. 



Contrary to the nature of flat fishes, it has tw© 

 fins in the middle of the body. There is one 

 branchial foramen on each side, covered by an 

 operculum, not osseous. The tail is fleshy and thick, 

 ending in a broad fin ; and another fin stands erect 

 on its upper part. From the sides of the head and 

 tail some fleshy appendages, placed at certain dis- 

 tances from each other, are suspended, which swim 

 on the surface when the sea-frog is in motion. In- 

 ternally, the peritonaeum is black, the ventriculus 

 large, having a single short appendage on each side. 

 The intestines slender, convoluted in numerous folds, 

 as was necessary, on account of its voracity and the 

 small capacity of its stomach. The liver is red, 

 small, contrary to the nature of voracious and glut- 

 tonous fishes ; nor is it divided into lobes as in galea; 

 and is not inferior in tenderness to the liver of the 



