FISHES. 



559 



Fig. 365. — Sun-fish (Orthagoriscus mola). 



. 



size, is easily distinguished from any species of the genus Tetrao- 

 don by its compressed spineless body ; being very round in its vertical 

 contour, it has been compared 

 to a disc, and more poetically 

 to the sun — whence its popular 

 name — to the great circular 

 surface of which the dazzlini^ 

 silvery white disc bears some 

 resemblance. But it is espe- 

 cially during the night that it 

 justifies the name given to it. 

 Then it shines brightly, from 

 its own phosphorescent light, 

 at a little distance beneath the 

 surface. On very dark nights 

 the sun-fish is sometimes seen 

 swimming in the soft light 

 which emanates from its body, 

 the rays rendered undulating by the rippling of the water which it 

 traverses, so as to resemble the trembling light of the sun half-veiled 

 in misty vapours. When many of these fishes rove about together, 



mingling their silvery trains, _ 



the scene suggests the idea of ^p~ "S 



dancing stars. The sun-fish is 

 common on the west coast of 

 Ireland, also in the Medi- 

 terranean, and it sometimes 

 reaches the markets of Paris. 

 It is from four to five feet in 

 length, and its weight is con- 

 siderable. Its flesh is fat and 

 viscous, and by no means 

 pleasant to eat. 



The species of the genus 

 Tctraodo7i have a somewhat 



large head and bony salient jaws, which are each divided in front by a 

 sort of vertical slit into two portions, which look like two teeth. 

 These four j)ortions of bony jaw, which project beyond the lips, some- 

 what resemble the hard and dentate jaws of the turtle. Their anterior 

 part is sometimes prolonged, like the mandibles of the beak of the 

 parrot. They are perfectly adapted to crush the shells of the molluscs, 

 as well as the hard carapaces of the crustaceans, on which they feed. 



Fig. 366. — The Globe-fish (Tetraodon). 



