TURBOT. CHJETODOX. GILT-HEAD. C 2 i 5 



THE TURBOT. 



This well-known valuable fish is of a square figure. The 

 colour of the upper part of the body is cinereous, marked 

 with numerous black spots of different sizes ; the belly is 

 white ; and the skin is destitute of scales, but much 

 wrinkled, and mixed with small short spines irregularly 

 disposed. 



The turbot grows to a very considerable size, frequently 

 weighing from twenty to thirty pounds. It is chiefly 

 taken off the north coast of England, and on those of 

 Scotland and Ireland. It generally keeps in deep water, 

 and is commonly drawn up by hooks and lines. Turbots, 

 as well as all other flat-fish, are extremely delicate in 

 their choice of baits, but show a predilection for fresh 

 herrings. The fishery for them requires to be conducted 

 with skill and regularity : the Dogger-bank is one of the 

 best known stations. 



THE CHJETODON, OR SHOOTING-FISH. 



This fish has a hollow cylindrical beak, which it uses 

 in a very singular manner. It is a native of the East 

 Indies, where it frequents the margin of the seas or rivers 

 in search of food. When it spies a fly sitting on the 

 plants that grow in shallow water, it swims towards it, 

 and at the distance of some feet, ejects a single drop of 

 water from its tubular mouth, which never fails of striking 

 the fly into the water, where it soon becomes the prey of 

 its foe. There are several species of the same genus, but 

 none so remarkable as this. 



THE GILT-HEAD. 



This fish is of a broad figure, compressed on the sides ; 

 and somewhat similar to the bream. It grows to the weight 

 of ten pounds, and is caught in great plenty in the Medi- 

 terranean. The back is sharp, and of a dusky green colour. 

 Between the eyes is an arched stripe, of a gold colour, re- 

 sembling a crescent, the horns of which point towards the 



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