THE MARIPOSAS 



Family XLII. Lamprida 



BODY ovate, compressed, and elevated, covered with minute, 

 cycloid scales; head small, rather pointed; mouth small, terminal; 

 no teeth in adult; premaxillaries protractile; only one dorsal fin, 

 very long, elevated, falcate in front, no spines; anal low, not fal- 

 cate; both fins depressible in a groove; pectoral fins large, falcate; 

 a pit at base of caudal above and below, as in certain sharks. 



Fishes of large size and gorgeous colouration, inhabiting 

 the open sea; highly valued as food, the flesh firm and rich. 



The single known species is the opah, mariposa or moon- 

 fish, Lampris luna. This interesting fish is found in the open 

 waters of the Atlantic and Pacific. It is frequently taken on the 

 coast of Europe and about Madeira, and is occasionally taken off 

 the coasts of Newfoundland, Maine, and Cuba. It has also 

 been taken at Monterey and other places on the California coast. 

 It reaches a length of 3 to 6 feet and a weight of 50 to 400 

 pounds. It is called San Pedro-fish, cravo, soho, Jerusalem had- 

 dock, glance-fish, gudlax, and poisson lune, in addition to the 

 names given above. It is one of the choicest food-fishes, the 

 flesh being firm, rich and of delicious flavour. 



It is a fish of most gorgeous colouration. "Just imagine the 

 body a beautiful silver," wrote the artist, James Farquhar, half a 

 century ago, "interspersed with spots of a lighter colour, about 

 the size of a sixpence, the eyes very large and brilliant, with 

 a golden ring around them; you will then have some idea of 

 the splendid appearance of the fish when fresh. If Caligula had 

 seen him I might have realized a fortune." The colour in life, 

 as seen by us, is a rich brocade of silver and lilac, rosy under- 

 neath; everywhere with round silvery spots; head, opercles and 

 back with ultramarine tints; jaws and fins vermileion; flesh red 

 of varying shades. 



326 



