187 



ijsli called payc, wliicli, as I have been assured 

 by those \vho have seen thenij is so diaphanous, 

 tliat if several are placed upon each other^ any 

 object beneaih tiieni may be distinctly seen. If 

 this propi-ity .- not g'leatty exa2"geratedj this fish 

 iiiiciht serve to discover the secret process of di- 

 gestion, and the motion of the fluids. 



Among the great varieties of fish with which 

 the waters of Chili abound, the three following 

 are more particularly deserving of notice. These 

 inhabit the sea, and are the gilt clKetodoiif 

 the cock-fish, and the tollo. 



The gilt chcefO'loii (chcetodon aureus) is flat, of 

 an oval form, about a foot in length, and covered 

 v/ith very small scales. It is of a bright gold co- 

 lour, and marked with five distinctbands, of more 

 thaji half an inch in width, some grey, and others 

 black. The first is black, commences at the 

 back of the neck, and passes in a circular direc- 

 tion through the eyes ; the two in the centre are 

 grev, and encircle the body, and the tviio last are 

 black and grey, and surround the root of the 

 tail, which is of a silver colour. This beautiful 

 fisli has a small head, an elongated mouth, fur- 

 nished with !r.oU teeth, and the bark entirelv 

 covered from the head to the tail with a large 

 spinous vcllow tin. 1 he tail is in the form of 

 a fan, and is b'ordered with yellow, and the flesh 

 is excel Lt i a n^;. 



The cock-fisli, (chiniasra callorynchus) placed 



