287 



OP AH DORY. 



Zeus Opah. Z. cauda sublunari, corpore nunc rvbentej nuns 



viridi, nunc purpurco y albo-guitato. Vivarium Natures. 4. /. 



140. 

 Dory with spmewhat lunated tail ; the body generally either 



red, green, or purple, with oval white spots. 

 Zeus Luna. Z. cauda sublunari) corpore rubente albo-guttato. 



Lin. Syst.Nat. Gmd. p. 1225. 

 Opah. Phil Trans, abr. 11. p. 879- t. 5. Brit. Zoo/. 3. t. 42. 



Nat. Misc. 4. pi. 140. 



THIS superb species is sometimes found in the 

 Mediterranean and Northern seas, into which it 

 seems to wander as an occasional visitant ; being 

 probably a more regular inhabitant of the warmer 

 regions. In size it exceeds every other species 

 hitherto discovered, measuring between four and 

 live feet in length : in colour it appears to vary, 

 the ground being sometimes a brilliant silvery green, 

 and sometimes a bright gold-colour ; but in either 

 case the body is variegated on the sides with pretty 

 numerous, and moderately large, oval white spots, 

 while the fins and tail are bright scarlet : the skin 

 is apparently v destitute of scales, and perfectly 

 smooth. 



Specimens of this fish have been occasionally 

 thrown on the* British coasts, instances of which 

 are recorded in the British Zoology and in the Phi- 

 losophical Transactions. The first regular descrip- 

 tion seems to have been drawn mp by Dr. Morti- 

 mer, in the year 17^0, from a specimen shewn to 

 the Royal Society, and taken on the coast of Leith 



