OPAH DORY. 389 



the whole shape of this fish much resembles that of 

 the sea-bream, but it differs in size, being much 

 larger, and in not having teeth nor scales Tthe fin 

 standing erect on the back has some aculei next 

 the neck, and rises up to eight inches ; but in the 

 middle diminishes to one inch ; and near the tail 

 rises again to about three inches : the belly-fin, 

 opposite to this, spreads three inches near the tail, 

 and diminishes towards the vent : the tail-fin is 

 forked, and spreads twelve inches : the gill-fins are 

 nine inches long, and three wide at their basis : the 

 two belly-fins were eleven inches long, and three 

 wide at their basis ; it seems to be a new species 

 offish, not yet described by any author." 



t)r. Mortimer adds, that the Prince of Anamaboe, 

 on the coast of Africa, being then in England, im- 

 mediately knew it, and said it was common on that 

 coast, and very good to eat : the natives call it 

 Opah 9 and the English the King-Fish. 



The cavity of the abdomen, in the above speci- 

 men, is said to have been extremely small, and the 

 bones very strong, bearing some resemblance to 

 those of quadrupeds, particularly the shoulder- 

 blades (as they are termed), which were thought to 

 resemble those of a sheep. 



A second specimen was taken in the year 1769* 

 near Newcastle, and is described in the British 

 Zoology by Mr. Robert Harrison. 



Septr. 12/A, 1769. 



" On Saturday last was thrown upon the sands 

 at Blyth, a very rare and beautiful fish, weighing 

 between seventy and eighty pounds ; shaped like 



v. iv. *, IL 19 



