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THE STONE BASSE. 



This beautiful fish inhabits the warm Caribbean sea, and is plentiful upon the West 

 Indian coasts. Its color is bright red, and the head, body, and sometimes the dorsal 

 fin, are profusely powdered with small blue spots, edged with black. Just by the joint 

 of the lower jaw there is a pair of largish black spots, and on the back of the tail, 

 immediately behind the dorsal fin, is another black spot. Of its habits nothing 

 interesting is told. 



The STONE BASSE is an inhabitant of the British seas. It is otherwise known as 

 COUCH'S POLYPRION, in honor of the eminent naturalist who first made it known as a 

 British species, and as JEW-FISH and WRECK-FISH the last title being given to it on 

 account of its habit of frequenting drifting timbers, apparently for the purpose of feed- 

 ing upon the various marine creatures that swarm about such localities. In Madeira it 

 is called CHERNE, when full grown, and CHERNOTTE when young. 



STONE BASSE. Polyprioa ccrniutn. 



Barnacle-laden timber seems to have great attractions for the Stone Basse, and it is 

 mentioned by Mr. Yarrell that a be calmed vessel was surrounded for a fortnight with 

 these fish, probably on account of the trailing barnacles with which her planking was 

 covered. Their presence was most valuable, as they were caught in great numbers, 

 and the men fed almost wholly upon them for twelve or fourteen days. 



From examination of the stomach, the Stone Basse seems to feed mostly on small 

 fish of various kinds, sardines having been found in its interior in large quantities. 

 Molluscs also form part of its food. It lives mostly in the deeper waters, preferring a 

 rocky bottom, and generally remaining deeply immersed, unless attracted to the surface 

 by the presence of its food. 



