THE DRAGONET. 313 



Several species Oemmeoua dragonet. 



THE DR4GONET. 



THERE are several species of. this fish, all of 

 which have their eyes vertical approximated ; 

 their gill-covers shut, with a small aperture on 

 each side the neck ; the gill-membrane six-rayed; 

 the body naked; and the ventral fins very re- 

 mote. They inhabit the North sea, the Medi- 

 terranean, and Indian seas ; belong to the class 

 of voracious fish, and seldom exceed a foot in 

 length. 



The gemtneous dragonet is distinguished by 

 the extraordinary length of the first ray of the 

 first dorsal fin, which is equal to that of the whole 

 body. The head is oblong, broad, arched above, 

 and flat below ; the mouth wide, and the teeth, 

 small and numerous. The body is of a tapering 

 form, smooth, and free from visible scales ; the 

 pectoral and ventral fins are of a remarkably thin 

 and delicate texture, they are large and of a 

 round figure. The dorsal fin is of a triangular 

 form, having seldom more than four or five 

 rays, the first of which extends far beyond the 

 rest. 



According to the descriptions of various natu- 

 ralists, we find that, like most other fish, the 

 dragonet varies considerably in color in different 

 individuals. Those caught in the Mediterranean 

 are sometimes spotted with brown and blue, am} 



VOL. v. NO. 37. Q R 



