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THE MEDITERRANEAN HOPLOSTETHUS. 



WE now arrive at another family of fishes, in which the body is rather compressed 

 i.e. flattened sideways the eyes are large, and the mouth oblique. It is scientifically 

 known by the name of Berycidae, and all its members are inhabitants of the tropical and 

 temperate seas. 



Our first example of this family is the JAPANESE SINGLETHORN. 



In all the fishes of this genus, the scales are rather large, very strong, and so closely 

 compacted together that they form a strong mailed covering to the body. The name 

 of Monocentris or Singlethorn is derived from the curious modification of the ventral 

 fins, which are devoid of membrane, and are reduced to a single very strong and rather 

 lengthened spine, and a few very short rays. In the place of the dorsal fin are four or 

 five thick spines, and the shield-like scales of the body are rough, projecting, and keeled. 



The Japanese Singlethorn is an inhabitant, as its name imports, of the seas of Japan, 

 and is almost, if not quite, the only species of its genus. It is chiefly remarkable for 



MEDITERRANEAN SHOPLOSTETHU.-//op/ostertus Mtditerreaaeus. 



the size of its head, the strong thorn-like spines, and the mailed suit of hard and pro- 

 jecting scales. It is of a tolerably uniform color, its whole body being silvery white, and 

 its length is about six or seven inches. 



THE large-eyed and deep-bodied fish which is shown in the illustration, derives its 

 name of HOPLOSTETHUS, or Armed-breast, from the strong and sharp spines which are 

 placed on the scapular bone and the angle of the praeoperculum. Like the last- 

 mentioned species, it seems to be the only member of its genus. 



This fish is found in the Mediterranean, and is not uncommon on the coast of 

 Madeira. It is remarkable not only for the offensive weapons with which it is armed, 

 but for the large, full eye, the saw-like series of notches on the abdomen, and the beau- 

 tiful rosy hue of its scales. The dorsal fin of this fish is single, but is composed of 

 two distinct portions, the one being supported by strong spinous rays, and the other 

 by soft and flexible rays. The muzzle is very short, rounded, and does not protrude ; 

 the tail is deeply forked, and the serrated portion of the abdomen consists of eleven, 

 twelve, or thirteen scales. The body is very deep in proportion to its length. 





