Tin: AT/*/) KK- /'/>'//. Mfl 



mi the head which charict,-ri/.es the l>o]phinof tin- :in.-i.-in- Vn.-i.-nt authors do not give 

 iniK-h attention to the Coryphene ; hence, to the cetacean rightfully U-longs tli<> place in an 

 I'.H-IS ha\e celebrated the I >ea u ties of Cory pln-ne. Tlie colon* are beyond deseripti' m. and the 

 changeable hues an- surprisingly beautiful. As -een fimn tin- side of a vessel. a- tin- < 'i \ 

 phene playfully accompanies it. tin- gl.-am i.f golden and sihery lidi!-. changing now und 

 again to rich metallic tints emerald, sapphire, and many g< .-nlor- it is a never-failing 



source of wmd-r and .-iij..\ in. nt Two species an* s-en n.-ar our shores in tin- warmer .seasons, 

 though they are essentially 



A \ i \:\ i.-markable tisli is allied rather closely to tin- preceding species, in spite of tin- 

 great difference in form, and by some writers was placed in tin- same genus as that lish. 



Tli.- \-'.\ i i. l'i i i: M i.i- is M !_'.XM| example ..f the curious -.-mis n, which it lieloiigs, and 

 which can always be recognized by tin- extreme depth of the dorsal and anal tins, and their 

 delicate tenuity nf structure. The dorsal tin is, moreover, remarkable for the bold sweep of 

 its extent, passing in an unbroken curve from the forehead to the tail. Owing to thfxdevelop- 

 ment of the anal tin. the i\\o \ entrain are placed very far forward, and are seen under the 

 throat. The members of this genus are spread over the Indian Ocean, the Sea of Marmora, 

 and some of the American c<.;iMv 



The Eyed Pteraclis is found on the Mozambique coast. It is n very l-autiful lish. the 

 general color being shining white, aa if made of jjoli.shed silver, with a wash of gold upon 

 the jtertoral and tail I'm-, and a deepi-h tint of blue-gray u|Kin the others. On the dorsal tin 

 there is a round spot of dark blue. It seems to be a small species. About four members of 

 this genus are known to naturalists. 



These fishes form a small family called /f //>////'/</. the Hramoids. included in four genera 

 and about ten species. Pt(Ta<-li* uroliita, a small lish. inhabits the waters of the Carolina.*. 



BEFORE quit tinir this family, we must briefly notice the handsome OPAII, or KINO-KI-II 

 (Lampris luna). 



This beautiful species seems to be the sole representative of it genus, it having been 

 separated from the genus Zeus, in which it had formerly been placed, in consequence of its 

 single dorsal fin. It sometimes attains to a considerable si/>-. a sjM-cimen having been taken 

 which measured five feet in total length, and weighed about one hundred and fifty pounds. 

 The flesh of this fish is red. very good, and is said to resemble that of the salmon. 



The color of the Opah is bright green on the npj>er part of the back and sides, with reflec- 

 tions of purple and gold in certain lights. The fins and eyes are scarlet, and a number of 

 round spots of pale gold are scattered upon the -ides. 



The Opahs 'family IsimpridicUt) are fishes of large -i/>- and gorgeous coloration, inhabit- 

 ing the open Atlantic. A single genus is known. Lampri* gitttala is sometimes seen off 

 Newfoundland. It is estimated as one of the most gorgeously colored fishes known. Sun-fish 

 is a local name. 



WE now arrive at a rather large family of fishes, which has been separated from the 

 mackerels on account of certain anatomical variations, which will be mentioned at the end of 

 the volume. 



The CORDOXMER, or COBBLER-FISH, has derived its popular name from the long sharp 

 spines of the dorsal and anal fins, which are thought to resemble the awl and bristles employed 

 by cobblers in their trade. This fish is a good example of the large genus to which it belongs, 

 and in which no less than seventy species have been classed. ' It i- found in various localities, 

 from the Red Sea throughout all the Indian seas, and is tolerably common. The form of thi- 

 Hsh is sufficiently curious to render it a conspicuous sjiecies, and it may IN* easily distinguished 

 from its many congeners by the oblong spot on the operculum, and the six black bands that 

 are drawn across the body and reach nearly to the abdomen. 



ANOTHER species of this genius is the RUDDER-FISH, (Caranx carangut\ so called because 

 it is fond of hovering about the rudders of vessels, apparently, for the sake of picking up the 

 vou m -. 



