454 



FISHES. 



very large, mucli longer than the snout. As the fish grows 

 the body is more compressed, and finally a high crest is 

 developed on the head, and the anterior part of the dorsal fin 

 attains a height equal to that of the body. 



Bbama. — ^Body compressed, and more or less elevated, covered 

 with rather small scales ; cleft of the mouth very oblique, with 

 the lower jaw longest. Dorsal and anal fins many-rayed, the 

 former with three or four, the latter with two or three, spines ; 

 caudal deeply forked. Ventrals thoracic, with one spine and 

 five rays. The jaws with an outer series of stronger teeth. 



Pelagic fishes which, like the allied genus Taractes, range 

 over almost all the tropical and temperate seas. 



Lampris. — Body compressed and elevated, covered with very 

 small deciduous scales ; cleft of the mouth narrow. A single 

 dorsal, without a spinous portion. Ventrals composed of numer- 

 ous rays. Teeth none. 



The " Sun-fish " (Z. luna) is one of the most beautiful 







.i. 



•^', 



■*i^-*^ 



Fig. 203. — Lainpris luna. 



fishes of the Atlantic. It attains to the large size of four feet 

 in length, is bluish on the back, with round silvery spots, 

 which colour prevails on the lower parts ; the fins are of a 



