TIOIJ. 



Class IV. OBLONG TETRODON. 171 



from which probably rose the name, for, accord- 

 ing to Athenceus, ogfyayogo-xos* was that given to 

 a young pig. We are inclined to believe, that 

 this fish had escaped the notice of Pliny, other- 

 wise he must have unavoidably made some 

 remark on its striking figure. 



This fish grows to a great bulk : that which Size. 

 was examined by Salvianus^ was above a hun- 

 dred pounds in weight: and Doctor Borlase 

 mentions another taken at Plymouth in 1734, 

 that weighed five hundred. 



In form it resembles a bream, or some deep Descrip- 

 fish cut off in the middle. The mouth is very 

 small, and contains in each jaw two broad 

 teeth, with sharp edges. 



The eyes are little; before each is a small 

 semilunar aperture; the pectoral fins very small, 

 and placed behind them. The dorsal fin and 

 the anal fin are high, and situated at the extre- 

 mity of the body; the tail fin is narrow, and 

 fills all the abrupt space between those two 

 fins. 



The color of the back is dusky, and dappled; 

 the belly silvery; between the eyes and the 

 pectoral fins are certain streaks pointing down- 

 wards. The skin is free from scales. 



When boiled, it has been observed to turn 



* Lib. it. p. 140. f Hist. Pise. 155. 



