474 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



■which it can see below it, and at the same time its enemies at a 

 distance above it. If the fins of this fish are mutilated, they 

 are again reproduced. It may be cut, dismembered, and dread- 

 fully torn, without appearing to suffer in the least. The shark 

 may likewise be liarpooned, and large portions of his flesh taken 

 off, without preventing him from pursuing his prey, until com- 

 pletely exhausted from the loss of blood. 



The anableps, when dead, emits a strong phosphoric light, 

 similar to that caused by tlie ocean sun-fish, when alive, wliich, 

 while swimming at night, yields a phosplioric light, similar to 

 the reflection of the moon in the water, from which cause it has 

 been called moon-fish. The reason why Providence has given to 

 the sun-fish this property, and his method of producing it, will 

 probably never be ascertained. "When they swim in large shoals, 

 illuminating the ocean, as if an army carrying lanterns were 

 moving through the waters, the spectacle impresses the mind 

 with the unceasing wonders of nature. 



Few mammalia, with regard to magnitude, present to the 

 human eye such tremenduous masses, as many shoals of different 

 fish. You may leave the enormous whale entirely out of the 

 question, and what terrestrial animal have we that can favorably 

 compete with the phosphoric shark 1 Then come the rays, which 

 exceed them in size, and often in their rage elevate themselves 

 to a great height from the water, and fall again into it with such 

 force as to make it roar and foam. The sea-devil is so large as 

 to require seven or eight pair of oxen to draw it on shore from 

 the sea. When we consider that whereas a land animal, such as 

 an elephant, gives birth to a single individual, a codfish produces 

 millions, w^e may well conceive that if nature had not provided 

 many checks, the water would soon be filled to repletion. 



The Flat-head and Round-head Hassar — The former of these fish 

 constructs its nest with leaves, and the latter with grass, after 

 which they deposit their ova, and cover them with great care; 

 and both male and female, for they are no doubt monogamous, 

 defend their nests with watchfulness until the young fish come 

 forth. The hassar, in very dry summers, is often seen in vast 

 numbers, making long journeys by land, in search of water. 



