182 MARINE AND FRESHWATER FISHES 



group, one variety, the Short Sun-fish (Orthagoriscus mola), 

 No. 193, is not unfrequently taken during the summer and 

 autumn months in British waters, the second form, or Oblong 

 Sun-fish (O. truncatus). No. 194, being much more rare. 

 Both species share the remarkable feature of having the 

 posterior region abruptly truncated, resembling in this 

 respect an ordinary fish cut in half; the tail is almost 

 obliterated or reduced to a mere frill-like border, continuous 

 with which are produced from above and beneath the large 



FIG. 25. SUN-FISH (Orthagoriscus truncatus\, 



equal-sized dorsal and anal fins. Both species attain to 

 large dimensions, a measurement of from six to eight feet, 

 with a weight of several hundredweight, being frequently 

 represented. Casts of several fine specimens of the short 

 Sun-fish (O. mold) will be found in the Buckland Museum. 

 The colours of a young example of this species forwarded 

 alive to the writer from Mevagissey, Cornwall, by Mr. 

 Matthias Dunn, a few years since, were brilliant silver 

 variegated with irregular blotches and bands of flesh- 

 pink. 



