FISHES. 27 



cirri, looking like worms, allure the unsuspecting prey, 

 which is seized upon immediately. Resembling these, 

 but of even more singular conformation, is 



The Toad or Swell Fish, sometimes called Blower, 

 which has the faculty of inflating its body like a bal- 

 loon. 



The iSargus (labrus julis), a kind of tench, well known 

 to the ancient Romans, has a double fold on the lips ; the 

 teeth in front are conical ; the molars, of which there are 

 three rows, are in form like paving stones ; is not more 

 than a span long ; nevertheless it is considered the hand- 

 somest fish in Europe. It is remarkable for a zigzag 

 stripe of a brilliant gold color running along the sides 

 the whole length of the body on a violet ground ; this, 

 likened to the badge of an order, changes in the light to 

 every prismatic luster, varying from celestial blue to 

 silver white, from the rosy tint of dawn to the golden hue 

 of sunset. Its food consists of shell and other fish. 



The Sea Parrot resembles the sargus, but is not near 

 so beautiful. 



The Red Deceiver (sparus insidiator) belongs to the 

 small family of menides, which in form resemble the 

 carp. In length one foot ; red above, gold color on the 

 sides, with the mouth very protractile. This muzzle, 

 which is longer than the head, the animal can, at will, 

 contract into a tube, and use it for seizing the small 

 fish on which it feeds. It is found in the Indian 

 Ocean. 



The Parrot Fish (scarus creticus) has large, smooth 

 scales ; the jaws are rounded ; the teeth are arranged 

 like mosaic work, and in size equals the foregoing. Its 

 color is either blue or red, according to the time of 

 year. It lives in the Mediterranean, and was known to 



