132 THE WHALE AND 



Sun-fish Described. Chowder Fore and Aft. 



which the men at once reeved round a block, 

 and soon merrily hauled him in, singing the 

 while a sailor's song. 



We found our prize a singular-looking ich- 

 thyological wonder as ever was seen. His form 

 is that of an ellipse, or like an elliptical shield, 

 about four and a half feet in the longest diam- 

 eter, three feet across, and one foot thick. His 

 mouth is small and round, like a sea-porcu- 

 pine's, and sucking constantly with great force 

 like a sucker. His eye is large as a bullock's, 

 and very prominent. He has two curious fins 

 to scull with one on his belly, or one rim of 

 the ellipse, the other on his back, or the other 

 rim of the ellipse and a sort of steering oar in 

 the middle of one of the sides. He moves edge- 

 wise through the water. He is covered to the 

 depth of three or four inches on both sides with 

 a white elastic case, like the meat of a cocoa- 

 nut, and very much resembling the sturgeon's 

 nose that boys put into balls to make them 

 bounce well. 



Under this case lies some excellent white 

 meat, which has been dug out and served up 

 into very fine chowder, and has supplied all 

 hands, fore and aft, with several excellent meals, 



