GENERA AND SPECIES. Iig 



Orthagoriscus. Plate xv. DIODONTIDJE. 



123. mola, SUN-FISH. Hinder end rounded ; skin rough. 



124. truncatus, OBLONG SUN-FISH. Hinder end straight ; skin smooth. 



The Sun-fish has from 16 to 18 rays in the dorsal, 15 to 17 in the 

 anal, 12 to 16 in the caudal, n to 13 in the pectorals, and is without 

 ventrals. The dorsal and anal are narrow, high, and pointed ; the 

 pectorals are short and rounded. The skin is granulated, and at 

 first is spiny. The eye has a lid in front with which the eye can be 

 covered. In colour this fish is pearly brown, and luminous in the 

 dark, and in length has been known to reach 8 feet. It swims in an 

 undulating way, and sometimes leaps out of the water. It groans 

 loudly when it dies, and when hooked sighs and grunts like a pig. 



The Oblong Sun-fish has from 16 to 19 rays in its dorsal, 16 in 

 its anal, 18 to 22 in its caudal, 12 or 13 in its pectorals, arid the 

 ventrals are missing. The dorsal and anal are joined to the caudal, 

 which is little better than a fringe. The skin has hexagonal 

 divisions. The colour above is purple or bluish grey. This is much 

 rarer in British waters than the other species, and has not 

 exceeded 25 inches in length. 



Osmerus. Plate xxvii. SALMONID&. 



213. eperlanus. SMELT. Skin transparent, and having a silver stripe. 



The first dorsal has 10 or 12 rays, the second is adipose ; the 

 anal has from 13 to 17 rays, the caudal 19, the pectorals have u or 

 12, and the ventrals 8 or 9. The first dorsal is midway between the 

 eye and the base of the caudal ; the adipose dorsal is over the middle 

 of the anal ; the ventrals are under the beginning of the first dorsal. 

 In the lateral line there are from 60 to 65 scales ; the scales are 

 cycloid, and there are 6 rows between the lateral line and the base 

 of the ventrals. The body is long, the sides rather flat, the back 

 more curved than the abdomen, the mouth deeply cleft, the lower 

 jaw the longer. The eyes are silvery. The Smelt has been caught 

 12 inches in length. It is gregarious and voracious, and generally 

 found in estuaries and harbours feeding on small fish and shrimps, 

 being particularly numerous in fishing ports frequented by shrimp 

 smacks. 



ragellus. Plates ii and iii. SPARID&. 



14. centrodontus, SEA BREAM. Scarlet, lighter below; a black spot 



where the lateral line begins. 



15. bogaraveo, SPANISH BREAM. Pinkish above, white below; a 



dark axillary spot. 



16. owenii, AXILLARY BREAM. Carmine above, white below; 



fins paler than body. 



17. acarne, Red, with golden reflections. 



18. erythrinus, PANDORA. Red, with purple and silvery reflections : 



ventrals colourless. 



The Sea Bream has 12 spines and 12 rays in its dorsal, 3 spines 

 and 12 rays in its anal, 19 rays in its caudal, 17 in its pectorals, and 



