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i^U 212 FOREST LIFE IN ACADIE. 



angular than in the S. Sahir, the lower ja^v shorter than 

 upper when closed, api)eanng longer when open. The 

 eye large, about two diameters from tip of nose ; nostrils 

 double, nearer the snout than the eye. Of the fins, the 

 dorsal has ten or eleven rays, not counting the rudimen- 

 Ml tary ones, in shape irregularly rhomboid, but the free 



|':| edge rounded or curved outward : the adipose fin varies, 



some sickle-shaped with free end very long, others 

 having it very straight and short. The caudal fin gently 

 curved rather than cleft, but differing in individuals. Of 

 the lower fins they all have the first ray very thick and 

 flat, and always faced white with a black edge, the other 

 rays more or less red. The head is blunt, and back 

 rounded when looked down upon. The teeth are upon 

 • f the inter- maxillary bone, maxillary bones, the palatine, 



and about nine on the tongue. There are none so-called 

 vomerine teeth, though now and then we find one tooth 

 behind the arch of the palate, where they are sometimes 

 irregularly bunched together. The colour Viiries ; but 

 through all the variations there are forms of colour that, 

 being always persistent, must be regarded as typical. 

 There are always vermilion s})ots on the sides ; there 

 are always other spots, sometimes decided in outline, 

 in others diffused into dapples, but always present. The 

 caudal and dorsal fins are always spotted, and of the 

 prevailing hue of the body. The lower fins have always 

 broad white edges, lined with black and coloured with 

 some modification of red. The chin and upper part of 

 the belly are always white. With these permanent mark- 

 ings, the body colour varies from horn colour to greenish- 

 grey, blue-grey, running into azure, black, and black 

 with warm red on the lower parts, dark green with lower 



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