SUN-FISHES. 



93 



In these fish, as in the others of the same family, the bones of the [Case 25.] 

 upper and lower jaws are confluent, forming a beak with a trenchant 



Fig. 82. 



Fiff. 83. 



Fig - . 82. Globe-fish (Diodon maculatus). 

 Fig. 83. The same, inflated. 



(From the Indian Ocean.) 



edge, without teeth. The Sun-fishes (Orthagoriscus, figs. 84;, 85) 

 are, with regard to external form, perhaps the most singular of all 

 Bony Fishes ; they present the appearance of a fish with the tail cut 

 off, this latter part of the body being extremely short. Two species 

 (0. mola and O. truncatus) are known, both of which occasionally 

 approach the southern coasts of England and Ireland. The former 

 species, which attains to a very large size, measuring 7 or 8 feet, 

 has a rough, minutely granulated skin. The second species is 

 distinguished by the more elongate form of its body, and by its 

 smooth tessellated skin. A very large specimen of 0. mola, from 

 Australia, is exhibited opposite the wall-cases ; a full-grown speci- 

 men of 0. truncatus in a separate table-case. 



h 2 



