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THE CORYPHENE. 



Dory, and left the print of his finger and thumb as a perpetual remembrance of the event. 

 Some persons, however, contend that the marks are due, not to St. Peter, but to St. 

 Christopher ; and the Greeks, who hold to the latter tradition, call the fish Christophoron. 

 It is a very voracious creature, feeding upon various marine animals and fishes of 

 inferior size to itself. It will even catch and devour a cuttle-fish of great size in spite of 

 the strength and agility of the prey, and is fond of following the shoals of pilchards for 

 the purpose of feeding upon the young and weakly. In consequence of this habit, it is 

 frequently captured in the same nets which are employed to take the pilchards. The flesh 

 of the Dory is remarkably excellent, and as it is rather improved by the lapse of twenty- 

 four hours after the fish has been taken from the sea, it is peculiarly valuable to those 

 who live far inland, and cannot hope for the more delicate fishes, which must be eaten 

 almost as soon as caught. Although a common fish, it always commands a high price, and 

 as, when cooked, the head occupies so large a space, it never affords an economical dish. 



JOHN DORY.-Zeus faber. 



The shape of the Dory is very peculiar. The body is very deep, and greatly com- 

 pressed. The head is oddly shaped, and the mouth can be protruded to a surprising 

 extent. The spines of the first dorsal fin are much prolonged, and behind each ray is 

 given off a very long waving filament, three times as long as the ray in front of it. Along 

 the base of the dorsal and anal fins are arranged two rows of spiny scales, their 

 points being directed backward, and one row being set at each side of the fin. 



The color of this fish is very beautiful, especially if seen immediately after its removal 

 from the water, when golden brown, olive, white, and azure are reflected from its sur- 

 face in changing tints, that rapidly vanish after death 



WE now come to a most beautiful and interesting fish, the CORYPHENE, so often 

 erroneously spoken of as the dolphin. 



This splendid fish is found in many of the warmer seas, inhabiting the Mediterranean 

 Sea, and the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans. The reader has, in all probability 

 heard the old story respecting the lovely and changeful colors of the dying dolphin, and 



