THE JOHN DORY. 79 



averages twelve or fourteen inches iii length ; 

 tlie body is covered with small scales, with the 

 exception of the lateral line, which exhibits a 

 series of large broad scales, producing a singu- 

 lar appearance ; those more especially of the 

 posterior half of the body have a central ridge 

 or keel, and each overlapping margin in succes- 

 sion is pointed. The appearance is as if a 

 stripe of plate-armour ran along each side of 

 the body. The general colour above is dusky 

 olive, with iridescent green, and a bluish wavy 

 gloss ; the sides of the head and the surface 

 below the lateral line are silvery, with waved 

 reflexions ; a large spot on the gill-covers and 

 the throat are black ; upper fins dusky ; lower 

 fins whitish. 



That singularly compressed and deep fish, 

 the John Dory, of epicurean renown, belongs 

 to the present family. The derivation of the 

 name of this species (Zeusfaber, Linn.) is doubt- 

 ful ; the Italian fishermen term it II janitore,* 

 or the gatekeeper ; the French Jaune doree, 

 (gilded yellow,) or simply Le Doree, or Pois- 



* This name is an allusion to St. Peter, who took the tri- 

 bute money from the fish at the command of our Lord, and 

 who, in Roman Catholic countries, is supposed to bear the 

 keys of heaven ; a black spot on each side the fish is super- 

 stitiously imagined to indicate the pressure of the apostle's 

 thumb and finger but the haddock may on this account put 

 in a claim. 



