BEAUTY OF FISHES. 289 



or Long-jaw. They are fond of congregating in little 

 parties, containing from two or three to a dozen, 

 skimming leisurely along near the surface, or darting 

 so swiftly as to shoot out of water. The hinder 

 part of the body and the tail maintain a constant 

 wriggling, or uniform lateral serpentine motion. I 

 have procured specimens of these fishes by the aid of 

 my fowling-piece, killing two or three at one dis- 

 charge of small shot. 



THE SPRAT. 



Another fish common in shallow water is the 

 beautiful little Sprat, a small species of Clupea ; it 

 congregates in large shoals over the sandy bottom, 

 or, as caprice may dictate, resorts in smaller numbers 

 to the fissures and caverns of rocks. A great many 

 are taken with the casting-net to be used as bait, 

 and the Pelican makes these shoals his standard 

 food. But their most terrific enemies are the different 

 kinds of Jack [Caranx), which attack and "beat" 

 them with such ferocity, that, in their frantic en- 

 deavours to escape, the whole shoal of Sprats will 

 often rush high and dry upon the sand. The species 

 appears to be the Harengula clupeola of M. Valen- 



BEAUTY OF FISHES. 



The beauty and gorgeousness of Fishes in the 

 tropical seas have often been admired. These 



crown, and lateral line, brilliant emerald green, iridescent. Lower 

 parts silvery, with a most brilliant opalescence on the sides. Fins 

 hyaline, bluish when in the water. Length eighteen inches. 

 O 



