CORTPH^NID^. 119 



tne adult the anterior fourth is elevated, whereas the rays in the remainder of the 

 fin are short, except the last few, which are slightly longer, and when laid flat 

 extend to the base of the caudal fin. Pectoral falciform, inserted about the 

 centre of the height of the body, and reaching to beyond the middle of the 

 base of the dorsal fin. Ventral situated rather posterior to the base of the 

 pectoral but similar to it in shape and length. Anal low, commencing on a 

 vertical line below the middle of the dorsal fin. Caudal forked. Lateral-line 

 with a strong curve, becoming straight abont midway between the eye and 

 the base of the caudal fin : it is formed of short single unbranched tabes. Free 

 portion of the tail as high as long. Air-bladder — very large, rounded in front 

 and ending posteriorly in two short horns. Colours — this fish is an exception to 

 the general rule that those which inhabit the tropical seas are most resplendent 

 in colours, as none can surpass the O^ah : as a French naturalist observed, 

 it resembles a noble of Neptune's court attired in his gala apparel. Back 

 bluish-green, sides violet and becoming red beneath : a number of oval silvery 

 spots scattered over the whole of the body and upper surface of the head : fins 

 and tail bright red. The general colours, however, vary from silvery-green to 

 bright golden with azure reflections. 



In Cuv. and Val. 1. c. reference is made to a young example of this fish 

 captured in the Gulf of Gascogne in 1810. The forms of the body, the various 

 proportions, the curvature of the lateral line and the spots were the same as in 

 adults. But the ventral fins equalled more than half the length of the body, 

 their extremities reaching to the middle of the caudal : while the anterior portion 

 of the dorsal fin was equally long. The pectorals likewise were proportionately 

 larger than seen in large specimens. This fish is figured in 0. V. 1. c. 



Names. — Opah, King-fish, sea-pert, carf, Jerusalem haddoch, sun-fish. Bren- 

 hinbyog, Welsh. Koningsvisch, Dutch. Ghrysotose, French. 



Habits. — This fish is a resident of deep waters, but rarely coming to the 

 shallows in the British seas : it has been recorded as captured in February, March, 

 the early summer, June, July, August, November, and December, while in the 

 majority of cases the month has not been mentioned. It may be taken, in short, 

 at any time throughout the year. In the stomachs of such as have been examined, 

 cuttle-fishes, other cephalopods, and AcalephiB have been obtained. 



Means of capture. — Low observes that it is very rare in the Orkneys, never 

 caught with a hook, and seldom thrown on shore. Mr. Dunn observed his 

 example floating on its side close in shore : it obtained an entrance into a sort of 

 open drain into which the tide flowed. He seized it by the tail but was unable to 

 lift it : another fisherman also tried to raise it at the same time, seizing it by the 

 gills. The fish at once broke loose, inundating them by its splashings. Finally 

 it was quietly dragged by its tail up the drain when it dashed against the iron 

 shutter which closed the drain exit, and so became stunned. It weighed 

 3/4 of a cwt. 



As food — Wallace observes that the flesh of the anterior half was like beef 

 and the other half like salmon. The one washed ashore in 1835, at Queensferry, 

 was eaten, its flesh was red and said to resemble and to be as good as salmon. 

 Moreau likewise remarks of an example at Boulogne, in July, 1878, that its flesh 

 was served at many tables and found to be excellent. 



Habitat. — It seems to prefer the deeper waters of the North Sea, and merely 

 ranges throughout a limited space, while it has not been recorded off Greenland 

 or east of North Cape. The largest number taken have been in the north. It has 

 been captured, according to Nilsson, on the coast of Norway from immemorial ages, 

 and was described by Peder Claussen in 1632 as Laxetoy, or " large salmon." 

 His example weighed 140 lb. In Scandinavia it is known as Glans-fisk. Very 

 rare in the Mediterranean, it is, however, sometimes captured there. Professor 

 Giglioli mentions two taken in Italy. 



Among those captured in British waters, we flnd many recorded. Sibbald 

 obtained one from the Firth of Forth in 1664 : Wallace from Sunda in the 

 Orkneys in 1682, when he observes upon several which had been previously got 

 there. Upwards of a dozen specimens, observes Baikie (Zool. 1863), have been 



