THE SUN-FISH. 



581 



some little difficulty, and the leverage acquired by the harpoon quite 

 necessary. 



The flesh of the Sun-fish is white and well flavored, and is in much 

 request among sailors, who always luxuriate in fresh meat after the 

 monotony of salted provisions. In flavor and aspect it somewhat re- 

 sembles that of the skate. The liver of the Sun-fish is rather large, and 

 yields a very considerable amount of oil, which is prized by the sailors as 

 an infallible remedy against sprains, bruises, and rheumatic affections. 



One of the most curious peculiarities of this fish is the structure of 

 the eye, which is bedded in a mass of very soft and flexible folds be- 

 longing to the outer membranous coat, while it rests behind on a sac 

 filled with a gelatinous fluid. When the creature is alarmed it draws 

 the eye back against the sac of fluid, which is thus forced into the folds 

 of skin, and distends them so largely as nearly to conceal the entire 

 organ behind them. 



While swimming quietly along, and suffered to be undisturbed, it 

 generally remains so near the surface that its elevated dorsal fin pro- 

 jects above the water. Only in warm, calm weather is it seen in this 

 attitude, and dur- 



ing a stormy season tf//'^^/ 



it remains near the 

 bed of the sea, and 

 contents itself with 

 feeding on the sea- 

 weeds which grow 

 so luxuriantly at 

 the bottom of the 

 shallower ocean wa- 

 ters. 



The color of the 

 Sun-fish is grayish 

 brown, darker upon 

 the back than on 



The American Sun-fish (Pomotis vulgaris). 



the sides of the abdomen, and the skin is hard and rough. It often 

 attains a very great size, one that was harpooned on the equator meas- 

 uring six feet in length. Several species of Sun-fish are known.* 



*As the name of Sun-fish is so well known in connection with one of the 

 prettiest and most common American fishes, we insert the following description 

 taken from Norris's American Angler'' s Book: " Body ovoidal in form, convex above 

 and below, but straight on the belly ; color of body brown, with a greenish tint 

 above, with pale blue, waving, horizontal lines on the preopercle and opercle. 

 Opercular appendix dark, with a bright red blotch on its posterior margin. The 

 dorsal fin has ten spines and eleven rays ; pectorals, thirteen rays ; ventrals, one 

 spine and five rays; anal, three spines and ten rays; caudal, seventeen rays. 

 49 * 



