320 PRICKLY FINNED JUGULAR FISH. 



fish is to be met with in most parts of Europe, and is 

 known to be a great enemy to the whale. 



The ophidium, or gilt-head, is allowed to be the most 

 beautiful of all the finnj' tribe; the skin is covered with 

 a mixture of gold, silver, and green ; the body is sword- 

 like, the mouth opens sideways, and the fins upon the 

 back are united to those of the tail. 



PRICKLY-FINNED JUGULAR FISH. 



The trachinous, or weaver : the body is oblong ; the 

 head obtuse; the bones covering the gills jagged; and 

 the fins covering the gills with six spines :,it generally 

 lies buried in the sand, with only its nose exposed to 

 the sight ; if trod upon, it strikes with its dorsal fin, 

 which inflicts both a dangerous and venemous wound. 



The uranoscopus is an inhabitant of the Mediterra- 

 nean sea : the body, in form, resembles a wedge ; and 

 the head is round and disproportioned to the rest of the 

 size ; the eyes are formed at the top of the head ; and 

 the fin which covers the gills has only five spines. 



The form of the callyonymus resembles that of the 

 uranoscopus : the mouth is even with the body ; the 

 opening to the gills at the back of the head ; and the 

 fin which covers them with six spines. 



The blennius, or blenny, is of an oblong shape ; the 

 head obtuse, with a single range of teeth ; and the fin 

 which covers the gills has six spines. 



PRICKLY FINNED THORACIC FISHES. 



The gobius, or gudgeon : the body round and ob- 

 long ; the head with two little holes between the eyes ; 

 and the fin covering the gills with six spines. 



