TIIK LITTLE DOO-FI8H. 1" 



TIIK very singular family of tin- ('hinm-i-idir ...mains a f.-w Imt remarkable sjiecies. 



Both them creatures are sufficiently quaint and ungainly in :^|< i Tin- NORTHERN 

 CHIM.KKA is also knoMii liy the title of UAHHIT n-n. prolably 011 account of its general 

 a>|-<-t. an,) KIN.. >} mi II i 1:1:1 N..-. l--,-:ni-. it follow* tin- -li.uls of thorn flshe> durinir 

 their wonderful migrations, ami makes great havoc among th.-ii numi-i-. The appendage 

 i the. top of the head is also looked ii| M .n l>\ th,. Norwegians in tin- light of a king! 

 ami has contributed towards its royal title. It is known in some localities under the name of 

 SKI. CAT. 



This species is mostly found in tin- Northern seas, and is, when living, a most beautiful 

 creature, its lwly glowing with golden-brown variegations ujnm a white ground. The tille 

 of (told ami Silvi-r Fish is sometime* given to the Northern Chinwra in consequence of this 

 gorgeous coloring. The pupil of the eye is green, ami the iris is whit*-. It fi-eds mostly 

 ii|M.n the smaller fish. l>ut timls much of its subsistence among tin- various mollusks, crusta- 

 ceans, and other inhabitants of the ocean. The flesh is not considered good, being hard and 

 coarse. 



The form of this fish is very peculiar, the body being tolerably large and rounded towards 

 the point, and the tail tapering rapidly until it ends in an elongate! thong, almost like 

 the lash of a whip. The second dorsal fin commences immediately behind the first, ami 

 BrtBnds along the tail nearh ' I,. .\tr.-mit \ of to lengthened filamentary t.-niiinati..ii. Th.- 

 sexes may readily be distinguished from each other, forth by the sha|- of the li.-ad and first 

 dorsal fin, and by a pair of bony appendages close to the ventral tin- It is not a large specie**, 

 seldom exceeding a yard in length. 



IN the seas of the south. TII hemisphere, there is another sjwci.-s of Chiina-ni. called from 

 its locality, the SOUTHERN ('HIM. ERA (CaHnrhym'htu anidrctica) or ELKPIIANT-KI-H. the latter 

 title being given to it on account of the extraordinary prolongation of the snout. The Amu 

 canian name for this SJHIM. - i- < n \i..;r A Arii.\<;rAi.. The snout of this tish is developed into 

 a strange cartilaginous prolongation, which Is l-nt Iwckwards in a hook-like form, and in 

 thought by some persons to In-ar a resemblance to a common hoe. 



The tail of this s|-cies does not corres|M>ml in oddity with it head, being without the 

 long filament that gives so strange an aspect to its Northern relative. The color is satiny- 

 white mottled with brown, and the size is about the same as that of the Northern Chimiera, 



The Chinueras are so manifestly different from fishes more or less allied on each side, 

 they are regarded as forming naturally a sub-class. They are all embraced under one order, 

 and one family. The extraordinary appearance of these creatures quite justifies the titles 

 irivt-n them. Two species are enumerated, one called Rat-fish, and the other Elephant-fish. 

 The former is found in the Atlantic Ocean, from Cape Cod northward, in deep water ; the 

 other inhabits the Pacific, from Monterey northward, and is very abundant. 



THE SHARKS. 



THE fishes belonging to the next sub-order have their gills fixed by their outer edge to the 

 dh i-ions in the gill-o]enings at the side of the neck. This sub-order includes the Sharks and 

 the Kays. 



The first family of this large and important group is known by the name of Scyllidje and 

 Its members can be recognized by several distinguishing characteristics. They have SJM.IM 

 holes on the head, and the gill-openings are five in number on each side. Sometimes there 

 only seems to be four openings, but on closer examination the fourth and fifth are found set 

 closely together, the opening of the fifth appearing within that of the fourth. The teeth are 

 sharp and pointed, and the tail is long, notched on the outer side, and is not furnished 

 with a fin. 



One of the commonest species is the LITTLE DOG-FISH, called by several other names, as is 

 usual with a familiar >]>ecies that is found in many localities. Among such names are SMALL 

 SPOTTED I i I-H, LESSER SPOTTED SHARK, MOROAY. and ROBIN Hess. 



