91 



THE SHORT SUN-FISH. 



Ortliagoriscus mold SCHNEIDER. 



PLATE III. 



THE rays of the fin stretch round the whole pos- 

 terior part of the fish, where it acts the part of a 

 tail. This fish, and another species, has been oc- 

 casionally taken on our coasts; and, Mr. Yarrell 

 remarks, have gained their name both from the 

 shape and the brightness of the skin. Notwith- 

 standing their occurrence, however, we know little 

 of their manners, or how the tail influences their 

 motions. It is known and recorded to lie, and 

 perhaps to sleep, with the head out of the water, 

 and is supposed to keep near the bottom, and to 

 feed on sea-weeds; and when taken, Mr. Crouch 

 says, it makes powerful but awkward attempts to 

 escape*. 



In the genus Trachypterm (Cuv. and Valenci- 

 ennes), the member is most remarkable, as indeed 

 are the whole fins, both in their form and struc- 

 ture ; but the form will be best understood by our 

 figure of 



* Yarrell, ii. p. 352. 



