77 



*ived in sight of his prey. What can induce 

 this small fish to associate and become subser- 

 vient to the shark ? 



THE STAR-GAZER. 



The head of this fish is large, square, and 

 covered by a strong bony case, roughened by an 

 infinite number of small warts, or protuberances ; 

 each side of this case is terminated above by 

 two spines, the hindermost of which is the 

 strongest, and covered by a skin ; the under 

 part has five spines, smaller than those above; 

 the mouth, which is wide, opens in an almost 

 vertical direction ; the tongue is thick, short, and 

 roughened with numerous small teeth ; near the 

 interior tip of the lower jaw is a membranous 

 process which terminates in a long cirrus, or 

 beard, extending to some distance beyond the 

 lips, which are themselves edged with smaller 

 ones ; the eyes are situated very near each other 

 on the top of the head. The body is of a some- 

 what square form as far as the vent, and 

 thence becomes cylindric ; it is covered with 

 small scales, and marked near the back by a 

 lateral line composed of small pores, or points, 



