35 



THE CHEQUERED SWINE-FISH. 



In the larger species the internal tube was perfectly distinct and of a blue color. When 

 put into spirits and water it died almost immediately, and turned opaque ; a number 

 of circular bands also appeared on it." 



The general aspect of the Lancelet is not unlike that of the leptocephalus already 

 described, the delicate transparent body and the diagonal arrangement of the muscles 

 causing a considerable resemblance between the two. But the leptocephalus is at once 

 distinguished by its head, which, although very small in proportion to the body, is 

 yet perfect, possessing well-developed eyes, gill-covers, jaws, and teeth, whereas the 

 Lancelet has no particular head, and neither eyes, gill-covers, jaws, nor teeth. 



CHEQUERED SWME'FlStt.HtUcbceres /fortuitous. 



THE following species have been inadvertently omitted in the preceding descriptions, 

 on account of recent alterations in scientific systems, and are now inserted as a brief 

 appendix. 



The great and important family of the Labridae, or Lip-fishes, so called in allusion 

 the thick and fleshy lip with which their mouths are furnished, are spread over the 



greater portion of the globe, few coasts being without several representatives of the 



group. 



These fishes are not only remarkable for the full fleshiness of their evidently sensitive 



lips, but for the endless variety of rich and vivid tints with which their bodies are 



decorated, hues pure as the bright patterns of cathedral windows, and often arranged 



ith a symmetrical regularity of outline and a daring harmony of contrasting colors that 



do not wholly lose their pictorial effect when translated into the simple black and white 



of a wood engraving, and when seen on the healthy and living fish appear as if flung on 



s scales direct from the kaleidoscope. Of the three primary colors, red seems to 



etain its purity of tone more perfectly than either the blue or the yellow, the former 



ally being mingled with yellow, and forming greens of varying qualities, while the 



frequently takes a slight tinge of red, and becomes warm orange. These tints 



ire extremely variable, ranging through every tone of the secondary color, and even in 



erent individuals of the same species the color is so uncertain that no dependence 



>e placed upon it as a means of determiniug the particular species. 



