THE GILT-HEAD— THE DORADO. 113 



sistence from these inhabitants of the ocean, of which the aston- 

 ishing fecundity is to several nations an inexhaustible source of 

 wealth. 



CHAPTER IV. 



H Here the dorado and the gilt-head glide, 

 With spots enameird, burnished, too like gold." 



In continuing our survey of the various tribes that inhabit the 

 watery element, we now come to the third order of the Linnsean 

 division, distinguished by the appellation of 



THORAICI, 



Of which the position of the ventral beneath the pectoral fins, 

 is the discriminative characteristic. In this order are compre- 

 hended seventeen genera, and upwards of two hundred and 

 twenty species, only a few of which the conciseness of our plan 

 will permit us to delineate. 



THE GILT-HEAD 



Derives it name from its predominant colour, the head being 

 of a fine gold colour, and the sides of the same, but somewhat 

 tinged with a brownish cast. It has only one back fin, which 

 reaches the whole length of the body. Some of this species 

 grow to the weight of ten pounds. It subsists chiefly on shell- 

 fish, and is found in deep waters, and near bold and rocky 

 shores. 



THE DORADO, 



Which in some degree resembles the preceding, but far ex- 

 ceeds it in the splendour of its golden tints, is an inhabitant of 

 the tropical climates, and at once the most active and the most 

 beautiful of the finny race. It is about six feet long; its back 

 is all over enamelled with spots of a bluish green and silver 

 colour ; its tail and fins are of a golden hue ; and all have a 

 brilliancy to which nothing but Nature's pencil can attain. The 

 eyes are large, beautiful, and surrounded with shining circles of 

 gold colour. In the seas where they abound, these fishes are 

 always in motion, playing round the ships. They are con- 

 tinually in a state of active warfare, pursuing or pursued, de- 

 fending themselves against the shark, or darting after the small 

 fishes. 



Above all others, the flying-fish most abounds in these seas 

 12 K 2 



