XVIII 



THE FISHES OF SOUTHERN 

 FLORIDA 



THE Tarpon glides along serene 

 As though to polish his scales of sheen; 

 For no silver ever had such glint, 

 Not even coin fresh from the mint. 

 This royal, bright, and beauteous thing 

 Is sometimes called the Silver King. 



The Sailfish with his fin so blue, 

 Jumps from the sea as though he flew, 

 He flits along from wave to wave 

 As though it were his life to save, 

 His dorsal fin with black spots is shot 

 And it closes neatly in a slot. 



The Mackerel tribe is always Spanish, 

 The common kind they seem to banish, 

 But others of the breed are not taboo 

 Such as the Cero and the gay Wahoo. 



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