FISHES. 19 



as they are not fit to be eaten. There is a smaller 

 species. 



The Daurade (sparus aurata), one foot long, is silver 

 gray, with a shimmer of green, of a lustrous white 

 below, and has twenty horizontal lines of golden bright- 

 ness on each side. It inhabits the Mediterranean, is very 

 fat, and once a table delicacy in the luxurious times of 

 the old Romans, is still esteemed as a dainty. It feeds 

 on shellfish, which it cracks open like a nut, and by the 

 noise thus made betrays itself to the fishermen. Very 

 susceptible to cold, it betakes itself, in winter, to the 

 bottom of the sea. There are numerous species of this 

 race, which are termed ISparoidcs. 



The ChcBtodons (chnstodon restrains) are remarkable 

 for their long, slender muzzles, open only at the end, 

 resembling a tube. They measure six inches, are yel- 

 lowish, but shine with metallic luster, and are striped 

 and ringed with brown. They frequent the mouths of 

 large rivers in Java, and are well known for their singu- 

 lar method of securing their prey. As soon as a fly is 

 seen to settle on a plant, the Archer or Shooting Fish, as 

 it is sometimes called, swims within four or five feet of 

 the victim, and, with a dexterity which never fails of its 

 aim, projects from its nozzle-shaped snout drops of water, 

 which throws the insect down ; it is then at once seized 

 upon as booty. 



The Mackerel (scomber scomber) is rather slender, 

 with small scales, weighs two pounds, has a blue back, 

 marked with undulating black stripes, is silver-colored 

 below, has no swimming bladder. The mackerel is a 

 migratory fish, and at certain seasons abounds on the 

 coasts of the United States and Europe, and is taken also 

 in great numbers on the western coast of England. Very 



