THE ATLANTIC OCEAN. 207 



pale crimson. Tlie Yellow-tail is pale azure on the 

 back, and pearly-white below, with a broad band 

 along each side of richest yellow ; the dorsal and 

 caudal fins are clear yellow. A larger species, which 

 the seamen denominated the Market-fish, is all over 

 of a silvery tint with a ruddy glow, the fins and tail 

 bright crimson ; this species has very large scales. 

 Others come under the appellation of Grunts ; these 

 are marked with oblique parallel lines of gold on a 

 silver or metallic azure ground, with delicately tinted 

 fins, and in some cases spots of peculiarly intense 

 h;stre ; the whole inside of the moutli in these 

 Grunts, of which there are several distinct species, is 

 generally of the richest vermilion. Then there are 

 the Hog-fishes. Tliese are of singular beauty, shaped 

 somewhat like a peich, with flesh highly valued for 

 its excellent flavour. One sort has the scales yellow 

 with red edges. The head is purple above, the jaws 

 a clear blue, on orange with red wavy lines. The fins 

 are yellow, spotted with scarlet, and the tail fin is 

 half black, with a yellow band. Altogether this is a 

 most gorgeous fish. Another kind has silvery grey 

 scales ; the head marked all over with streaks of 

 brilliant violet blue, fantastically arranged, somewhat 

 like the stripes upon the head of the Zebra. These 

 last, as also the jNIarket-fish, belong to the family 

 Lahridm or Wrasses : the Grunts are species of the 

 genus Hcnmulon: the others belong to Mesoprion, in the 

 gi'eat Perch family. Still, however, even here there 

 is some deformity ; at least, ever}'thing does not 

 accord with our habitual ideas of comeliness ; these 

 beauties are set off, as by a Ibil, by the visage of the 



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