478 FISHES. ACANTHOPTERYGII 



L. rhomboides, Cuv. (Chcetodon, Bloch.) Body rhomboidal, gray 

 or greenish blue above, yellowish beneath, with two or three deep- 

 er blue bands on the sides ; live spines before the dorsal, and two 

 before the anal fin. Inhabits American seas. Block, pi. 209. 



Gen. 118. BLEPHARIS, Cuv. Zeus, Bloch. 

 Body deep, rhomboidal ; dorsal spines very short ; first soft rays 

 of the dorsal and anal fins soft, and elongated into filaments 

 exceeding the body in length ; free spines before the anus. 



B. ciliariy, Cuv. Body rhomboidal, thin, without scales, bright sil- 

 very, with a bluish or greenish tinge on the back ; soft rays of 

 the dorsal and anal fins extended into long filaments. 6 inches 

 long. Inhabits Indian seas. 'Block, pi. 191. 



3. With one dorsal Jin ; teeth crowded. 



Gen. 119. ZEUS, Lin. 



Body oval, compressed ; jaws strongly protractile ; teeth crowd- 

 ed ; spinous portions of the dorsal and anal fins separated 

 from the other by a deep notch ; scales projecting, or spinous 

 scales at the base of the vertical fins, and between the ven- 

 tral and anal fins. 



Z.faber, Lin. Common Dory. Head and mouth large ; body yel- 

 low, marked with a black spot on each side; forked spines along 

 the dorsal and anal fins, and long membranous filaments behind 

 each dorsal spine. 15 inches long. Inhabits European seas. B. 

 Shaw, iv. pi. 41. 



The black spot on each side of the Dory has been attributed to a similar cause 

 with that which is said to have occasioned the haddock bearing analogous marks. The 

 latter, according to the legend, was the fish out of whose mouth St Peter took the 

 tribute money, and the marks of his finger and thumb on its sides perpetuate the 

 iniracle. St Christopher, in wading through an arm of the sea, having caught a 

 stray Dory in his passage, left indubitable evidence of the fact on its sides by the 

 two opposite marks of a ringer and thumb. The Dory, notwithstanding its appear- 

 ance not being very prepossessing, is said to be an excellent fish for the table. It 

 was chiefly brought into reputation in England by Mr Quin the actor, who. to talents 

 of a high order in his profession, joined a most consummate taste in the luxuries of 

 the table. 



Gen. 120. CAPROS, Lacep. Zeus, Lin. 



Body and tail much compressed vertically ; no teeth ; two dor- 

 sal fins ; scales small and rough ; no spines before the dorsal 

 or anal fins. 



C. aper, Lin. Snout narrow, produced ; body reddish, covered with 

 rough ciliated scales. 3 inches long. Inhabits Mediterranean 

 sea Shaw, iv. 292. 



Gen. 121. EQUULA, Cuv. Zeus, Lin. 



Body compressed, covered with small scales, except towards the 

 end of the lateral line, where they are carinated ; snout pro- 

 tractile, and mouth with small crowded teeth ; one continuous 

 dorsal fin, the spinous part projecting ; a row of spines on 



