THE POMPILUS. eOE 



fins are four, two peroral and two ventral, befides a 

 large dorfal and an anal fin, each extending to the tail. 

 From its remote habitation in the ocean, this fifh is but 

 rarely caught ; and even in the Italian naarkets, where 

 it is fometimes fold, it has no appropriated name. 



Another remarkable fifti of this genus is the hippurus, 

 alfo an inhabitant of the ocean, and never found upon 

 our coafts. Rondeletius had an opportunity of examin- 

 ing this animal in Spain, where it is called /ampugo, and 

 appeared to him to be diftinguiibed from the whole finny 

 tribe by its fuperior beauty *. Immediately above the 

 roftrum, there arifes a large crefi-like fin, which conti- 

 nues uninterrupted to the tail, where it meets with a fi- 

 milar fin upon the belly. The peroral fins are rounded 

 and broad, refembling ears ; the ventral extend the half 

 length of the body. The mouth is moderately large, 

 armed in the jaws, palate, and tongue, with fmall fharp 

 teeth. The eyes are large ; the body covered with fmall 

 fcales, and of a pale blue colour. 



The ancient naturalifts believed, that this animal lay 

 hid in a dormant flate during winter, like the fer- 

 pent ; and that its young increafed in fize in a far more 

 rapid manner than thofe of any other fifh. The Spani/h 

 filhermen, after taking the young, Ihut them up in pools, 

 where they pretend that a difference of their fize is per- 

 ceivable every day f . The other fifties of this genus are 

 moflly peculiar to South America, and are only known 

 by the barbarous names affixed to them by the natives. 



* De pifclbns. f Ariftotle Hift. Aoimal. lib. ;. cap. le, 



Vol. III. C c 



