THE CILT HEAD THE DORADO. 3f)S 



Leaving you .therefore a while to contemplate a 

 picture so interesting and so pleasing, 



I am, dear Sir, 



Your's, &c. 



LETTER LVIL 



*' Here the dorado and the gilt head glide, 

 With spots enamell'd, burnished too like gold." 



DEAR SIR, 



continuing our survey of the various tribes that 

 inhabit the watery element, we now come to the 

 third order of the Liunrcan division, distinguished by 

 the appellation of 



THORAICI, 



of which the position of the ventral beneath the pec- 

 toral fins, is the discriminative characteristic. In this 

 order are comprehended seventeen genera, and up- 

 wards of two hundred and twenty species, a very few 

 of which the conciseness of my plan will permit me 

 to delineate. 



THE GILT HEAD 



derives its name from its predominant colour, the 

 head being of a fine gold colour, and the sides of the 

 same, but somewhat tinged with a brownish cast. It 

 has only one back fin, which reaches the whole 

 length of the body. Some of this species grow to the 

 weight of ten pounds. It subsists chiefly on shell fish, 

 and is found in deep waters, and near bold and rocky 

 shores. 



THE DORADO, 



which in some degree resembles the preceding r>ut 

 tar exceeds it in the splendor of its golden tints; is nn 

 inhabitant of the tropical climates, and at cnce the 

 nuist active and the most beautiful of the fh:nv r c u c. 

 li is about six feet long; its back is all over enamel- 

 led with spots of a bluish green and silver colour; its 

 tail and fins are of a golden hue; aud ail have a bril- 



