108 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Singular property of the first dorsal fin. 



distance from the other two; the skin of the 

 back and belly at the base of the dorsal and anal 

 fins drawn out and compressed; pectoral fins 

 small; dorsal and anal fins triangular, and situate 

 nearly opposite each other; the tail even at the 

 end. 



A singular property is possessed by the first 

 dorsal fin of this fish, which is, that no force can 

 depresss the first spine; but if the last be depres- 

 sed in ever so gentle a manner, the other two 

 immediately fall down with it ; and as instanta- 

 neously as when a cross-bow is let off by pulling 

 the trigger. One sort, found in the Mediterra- 

 nean, near Rome, is on that account called prsce 

 balestra, (the cross-bow fish.) 



There is another species mentioned by Wal- 

 cott, the body of which is much compressed and 

 deep; the rays of the first dorsal fin, spiny; the 

 first ray very long and rough; first dorsal fin 

 and the back from its base black; rest of the 

 body and the head a golden yellow; skin rough; 

 tail rough ; and in the place of each ventral fin a 

 long rough spine. 



Also another species, (named hispidus by na- 

 turalists) is found in Carolina; the head fin of 

 which is not radiated, and there is a round black 

 spot in the tail fin. The body is rough, and 

 bristly towards the tail. The spine, or horn, is 

 situated between the CVLS; and instead of a belly 

 fin it has a jagged sharp spine. 



Several more species, or varieties, are found 



