ICHTHYOLOGY. 



70S 



IsnisVai Forskael, is sought after as food, and its flesh is agreea- 

 ble. The P. paru, a native of the American seas, is 



_^~^_ r likewise much sought after as food, and is taken by the 

 hook. 



GENUS CXLT. HOL.ICANTHUS. 



One dorsal fin ; teeth, small, flexible, and moveable ; 

 gill lid with a process and spines. 



This genus contains thirteen species. They inhabit 

 the tropical seas, and are elegantly ornamented with 

 curved coloured bands. The species are divided into 

 sections from circumstances connected with the tail. 

 The Holacanthus impetator is* not only remarkable on 

 account of the brightness and distribution of its colours, 

 but of its excellence as food. It is an inhabitant of the 

 Indian ocean, and its flesh is remarkably fat and palata- 

 ble, reckoned equal in point of flavour and richness to 

 the salmon. It is considered as superior to any other 

 nth known in that vast ocean. It grows to about a 

 foot in length, and is of an oval shape. 



GENUS CXLII. ENOPLOSCS. 



Two dorsal fins, teeth small, flexible, and moveable ; 

 a process and one or more spines on the gill lid. 



This genus, from IMX-AH, armatus, was instituted by 

 La Cepede, and includes only one species, named Whitii 

 in honour of the discoverer. See White's Tour, New 

 ': ll'nle*, p. 854. tab. 39. It was at firat termed 

 Chaetodon albescens. Its colour is white, tinged with 

 blur, and silvery. 



GENUS CXLIII. GLYPHIBODON. 



One dorsal fin; body and tail compressed; teeth 

 indented or carved. 



This genus, formed from yvfi;, incisvra, and J,t>. a 

 .'.oth, contains two species. The G. moucharra of La- 

 t epede, Cnsetodon saxatilis of Bloch, is found on 

 the coast of Arabia, as well as on the shores of the Bra- 

 zils. It remains always in deep water, among corals, 

 on the polypi of which it subsists. Although its flesh 

 is white, yet it is dry and insipid. Tin- ll. -h of the 

 other species G. kakaitul of La Cepede, the Chtetodon 

 rnaculatus of Bloch, a native of the fresh waters of Su- 

 rinam and Coromandel. is so full of bones, that none but 

 the negroes make use of it. , 



GENUS CXLIV. ACANTHI-RUS. 

 One dorsal fin; body and tail compressed; one or 

 more spines on each side of the tail. 



The name of the genus is derived from xif, tpina, 

 and . cauda. There are six species, the mo^t re- 

 markable of which is the A. chirurgus or Lancet fish, 

 so called from the wounds which it inflicts with its 

 caudal same*, being deep, and accompanied with a 

 flow of blood. It is found in the sea at the Antilles, 

 where it is much fought after for dietetical uses. The 

 A. nigricans is found in the wanner seas of both con- 

 It leeds on small crabs and shells, and its 

 is firm and palatable. 



Classifica- 

 tion of 



GENUS CXLV. ASPISUBUS. 



One dorsal fin ; body and tail compressed ; a hard 

 thttK-^T plate on each side of the tail. 



This genus, from , clypeut, and .vp, caiula, con- 

 tains only one species, vii A. sohar. It was first de- 

 scribed by Forskael, who found it in the Arabian gulf. 

 It lives on the remains of organised bodies, and resides 

 near the shore. 



GENUS CXLVI. Ac \NTHOPODUS. 



One dorsal fin ; one or two spines in the place of 

 each ventral fin. 



This genus contains the cbirtodon argenteus and 

 Bodaertii of Gmclin, of whose history little is known. 



GENUS CXLVII. SELENE. 



Two dorsal tins, with spines in the space between them. 



This genus, from <n*nir,, luna, contains two species, ' "'" 

 natives of the West Indies and America. The first ""^ 

 termed S. argentea, was described by La Cepede from 

 the drawings of Plumier ; and from its shape is termed 

 by the natives moonfish. The second S. quadrangula- 

 tus, is the Faber marinus fere quadratus of Sloane, 

 and placed in the genus zeus by many naturalists. In 

 shape it is almost square. 



GENUS CXLVIII. ARGYREIOSUS. 



One dorsal fin, with spines in front. 



The zeus vomer of Linnaeus is the only species of 

 this genus. It is common to the coast of Norway and 

 the Brazils. This is a very remarkable circumstance, 

 indicating a constitution capable of supporting oppo- 

 site extremes of temperature. In whatever situation it 

 is found, it presents the same form, and exhibits the 

 same beauty of colouring. It arrives at the same size 

 in the seas of both continents, and in both its flesh is 

 esteemed as excellent The name of the genus is deri- 

 ved from *fyvfitf, argenteus. 



GENUS CXLIX. ZEUS. Doree. 



One dorsal fin, without spines in front, the rays ter- Doree. 

 minating in long filaments. 



This genus, as now restricted, contains only three 

 species. The first of these is the Z. ciliaris, so named 

 from a few of the last rays of the dorsal and anal fins 

 extending like hairs far beyond the connecting mem- 

 brane, and even farther than the tail itself. La Cepede, 

 in the absence of observation, hazards the conjecture, 

 that the animal may use these long filaments to entice 

 its prey to approach, as a few fishes are known to do, 

 who possess long filaments. He even supposes, that 

 by means of these, twisted round aquatic plants, the 

 (Mi maintains itself stationary for particular purposes. 

 These conjectures are supposed to be rendered pro- 

 bable from the facts which are established with re- 

 gard to the cunning of another species, the Z. insi- 

 diator, which like the chetodon rostratus, ejects water 

 through its tubular mouth on flies that alight on aqua- 

 tic plants, and thus stupifies and secures them ; but the 

 analogy is here very remote, as the points of resemblance 

 are so few. The flesh of this last species is rich and 

 agreeable ; a hook baited with a fly is employed in ta- 

 king it. Both species are natives of the Indian seas. 

 The third species is the Z. faber, or common doree. It 

 is a native of the Northern Atlantic and Mediterranean 

 seas, and was well known to the ancients. 



GENUS CL. CALLUS. 



Two dorsal fins, without spines between them. 



La Cepede formed this genus for the reception of the 

 Zeus gallus of other writers. This species is very 

 widely distributed, being common to Greenland, the 

 Mediterranean, South America, and the East and West 

 Indies. Its flesh is esteemed good. It feeda on small 

 worms and fishes. 



GENUS CLI. CHRYSOTOSUS. Opak. 



One dorsal fin ; jaws destitute of teeth ; body and Opuli. 

 tail compressed ; height equal to the length. 



The generic name is from xfvftmii, aurator. The 

 Zeus luna of Linnaeus is the only species. It is found 

 in the Northern and Atlantic seas, and from the in- 

 spection of drawings in the Museum at Paris, Lace- 

 pede is disposed to consider that it likewise inhabits 

 the Chinese seas. Dr Mortimer says, that the Prince 

 of Anamaboe, on the coast of Africa, recognised, in an 

 Knglish specimen, a fish which he said was common on 

 his own shores, and very good to eat. 



