256 SPORT IN NORTH AMERICA. 



three to four feet thick. The shape of the tail is 

 round, like that of a cow ; it is as moveable as 

 that of a dog, and is furnished consequently with 

 a contractile membrane. The teeth are, for the 

 most part, very small, and are set into the lower 

 jaw in rows of seven or eight. The whole body 

 of the devil fish is flexible; and one of the 

 most remarkable pecuHarities about this fish is, 

 that it carries between its very prominent eyes a 

 pair of horns, or rather barbels, some two or three 

 feet long, which it uses just as an elephant does his 

 trunk, to convey food (such as sea-weeds) into his 

 mouth. 



The scales of the devil fish are bright blue, like 

 sapphire, and are arranged like a piece of mosaic. 

 This colour extends from the shoulder to the tail, 

 but the top of the shoulder is nearly black. Three 

 black stripes cross the back, toned gradually down 

 to the whiteness of the belly. 



The devil or angel fish leave the depth of the 

 ocean and visit the bays of South Carolina during 

 the months of July, August, and September. They 

 may be seen swimming on the surface and jumping 

 right out of the water by the aid of two large wings 

 or fins, which make them look just like bats. The 

 devil fish are very graceful in their movements, and 

 when they are not wounded are as quiet as lambs. 

 They appear very unexpectedly, and it sometimes 

 happens that when the fisherman has been seeking 



