THE JOHN DORY. 



87 



scales extends along the bases of the dorsal and anal fins on each side. The body is usually a pale 

 olive-brown, with a large circular spot, nearly black, upon the middle of the side. This fish is most 

 abundant in the summer and autumn. Couch records that he has taken from the stomach of one 

 Dory twenty-five Flounders, three Father- lashers, and five stones from the beach. Usually it is a 

 sluggish fish, but at times becomes active in pursuit of prey. Pilchards, the young of the Sea 

 Bream, and the common Cuttle-fish are favourite items of food with it. It has always been highly 

 valued for the table. It was, we believe, Archbishop Whately who declared that the proper 

 companion for John Dory was Ann Chovy. The largest examples mentioned by Couch have u 

 length of twenty-two inches and a weight of eighteen pounds. When dying the colours fade, 

 but are regained when the fish is dead. The ingenious inventors of legends have disputed whether 



JOHN i:OKY. 



it was not the Dory rather than the Haddock which St. Peter took from the Lake of Genne.sai'et 

 and marked with his finger and thumb while taking the tribute money from its mouth. Other 

 authorities in the matter of legends maintain that while St. Christopher, wading through an arm 

 of the sea, was carrying the Saviour he caught a Doiy and left the impressions from his hand 

 011 its sides as an everlasting memorial to be handed down to the fish's posterity. 



FAMILY XXr.-STROMATEIXA. 



This family is represented in the British seas by the Black-fish. In this group tne sharp margins 

 of the jaws are bordered with minute teeth, and though the palate and tongue are smooth, the 

 oesophagus is armed with numerous bony teeth, which are barbed. The Black-fish (Centrolophtis 

 pompihtti) is a rare visitor to the British coast. Couch obtained specimens thirty-two inches long, 

 though its size is generally smaller. The flavour is delicious. The colour is usually black. A second 

 British species (Centrolophus britannicus) is described by Dr. Giinther. Its stomach was found to be 

 full of seaweed, and Couch states that the bones of the head and back were as soft as cartilage. 

 The colour is brown, and the species is distinguished by its great length relatively to the height, and 



