////: THU1-LOBED BLKI'fl \s. -::.; 



Bred volume are really the S-a I/ocu-ts. but this conjecture --ems t< U- entirely gratuitous, 



ami is uii-ii|,|Mirifl b\ facts 



AXOTHKK curious fish in the SKKPAAKD of tin* Dutch i Agrioput tormtt), a native of the 



twos around the Cape of Gooi Ib>]e 



It is a rather ]H, \\.-rfully armed species, on account of the strong, sharp, and recurved 



spin-- ! ' *li.- dm-..: !:n. i"i! it- I.. -.!! is nui -ii]. | ii. -d u nli iii. ii ...... \ projections thai [vn,|,. r 



tli<- pr>ceding fish HO j-riliii- t<> handle. The dorsal tin of the Seepaard is single. :nnl the 

 spinous jHH-lion is greatly develo|ed. risjm; in :i boH cur\e <>\T tin- shoulders and back like 

 the crest of an uncicnt helmet. and ln-ing continued almost as far as tin- tail. Very little is 

 known of this fish. though it in far from uncommon, ami is i-ai.-n by the Dutch colonist* of 

 tin- <':ipe. 



Its color Ls brown, moHtly marhl.-.! with black, ami th skin i-^ 



TIIK strange ainl quaintly d.'.-onit^l fish, oallel Vt i i-u >< "i:r i s.v. is an inhabitant of 

 tin- Ami-ricaii c..a-.t. Ix-im: foiin-1 mi the Atlantic shores of Northriii Aiiicrica. 



This IK hi looking KjH-cirs fn-ipi.-iii^ the s;im' liraliti-s as tin- CIH!. uml is often taken at 

 tin- sum- tiiiu- as that fish. Tin- skin of the Yellow Scorpa-na is devoid of s*-ules. and the 

 \eiitr.il and j-ctond tins are envelo^-d in thick skin. The head is depressed, naked, and is 

 covered with a series of loose, skinny ap|H-ndap-s. th:it flap and wave alxiut in the water 

 without any apparent purpose. It is also armed with a numl>er of rather sharp spines. 

 There are two dorsal fins, the tirst Ix-inj: so deeply scooi>ed that at one time the fish was 

 described as possessing three dorsals. The tirst four spines of the dorsal fin nre very long, and 

 the membrane is deeply s.-(M)]-.| U-t \Mt-n the fourth and fifth spines. Thep-neral color of this 

 fish is \ello\\. tinu r '-d more or less with red. and in some specimens marMed with bn>wn. The 

 length of a very fine specimen is about two feet, but the ordinary average is from fourteen to 

 inches. 



TIIK FiLAMKNTors (ii i:\MtDaflfonlsanotherexample of this apparent capriciousness of 

 grotesque formation. It is found on the coasts of the Isle of France. It appears to feed 



mostly uiM.n crustaceans and mollusks. and the Ixmy n-miiants of certain cuttle-fish have IM-.-U 

 found in its stomach. Its color is grayish-brow n. marbled with a deeper hue of the same tint, 

 and covered with minute spots of white. 



Then> is another sjM-cies of this p-nus which is colored in a rather bold :.nd pleasing man- 

 n-'i. This is tlie Spurn \> 1'n.m: /'/"/ /////>///////// i, which derives it name fnm the manner 

 in which the black hue of the skin is variegated with white. In this species there are three 

 large white jKitclies on the back, and three more on the dorsal fin. Some circular white spots 

 are scattered on tin- head, and a white rin.i: encircles the eyes. The jM-toi-d tins are decorated 

 with a bold white band, and the tail tin is marked with two white bands alternating with the 

 same number of black stri])e8. 



TIIK odd -looking fish which is known by the name of the TIIKKK-I.OHKH Hi.i.r-r\-. is one 

 of those species to which the ancient naturalists had affixed certain names without any appar- 

 ent moti\e for so doing. There is no particular meaning iu the word, and the sum of informa- 

 tion obtainable from lexicons js. th ;i t it signifies a certain fish. 



The memliers of this genus are found on the coasts of Kamchatka, and some fine speci- 

 rnens wendbtebu i bon Blmi OTOM Uaad^ i;i the Chilf o( Gengla. '\'\\i- -} i-- i- 



> common, but may ejisily In- known from its coup-tier, the TWO-LOBKD BLEPHIAS (Blfp 

 fiihitnis), by the jieculiar manner in which the spiny ]>ortion of the dorsal fin is notched so 

 as to form the whole tin into three distinct lobes. In the second si''-i--s this structure is not 

 Been. In U.th. the soft portion of the dorsal fin is greatly developed, and the body and fins 

 are boldly marked with dark streaks upon a lighter surface. The body is entirely covered 

 with prickles. 



