SHORT SUN-FISH. 853 



The figure at the head of this subject is an exact represen- 

 tation of the fish from which it was taken, cliiFering only in 

 size ; and from some differences that appear in the descrip- 

 tions of specimens of greater bulk, there is reason to believe 

 this fish alters in appearance as it increases in age. In a 

 much larger example the skin was of a uniform dirty pale 

 brown ; the texture hard, rough, coarse, and thick. Accord- 

 ing to Dr. Jacob, the irides in his specimen were dull grey- 

 ish brown, with a silvery ring round the pupil. 



I am indebted to Mr. Couch for the under jaw-bone of a 

 Sun-fish of considerable size. The outer margin of this 

 bone, for three inches round the front, in which there is no 

 division, is covered to its edge by a narrow band of enamel : 

 the inside, near the centre, contains various dull pearl-like 

 teeth ; some thin and flat, presenting an edge ; behind them 

 others, more cylindrical, short, and rather pointed. 



Upon the external surface of the head of the example of 

 the Sun-fish taken at Tenby, there were attached about 

 twenty specimens of Tristoma coccineum. Two of these 

 were given to me by H. E. Strickland, Esq. of Cracombe 

 House, Gloucestershire, from one of which the representa- 

 tions in the vignette below of the upper and under surface 

 were taken of the natural size. For an account of two spe- 

 cies of these very rare parasitic animals, see the Synopsis 

 Entozoorum of Rudolphi, page 427. 



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