THE SEA HORSE. 493 
looks just as if the head and shoulders of some very large fish had been 
abruptly cut off, and a fin supplied to the severed extremity. 
Several specimens of this odd-looking fish have becn captured in British 
waters, and in almost every case the creature was swimming, or rather 
floating, in so lazy a fashion, that it permitted itself to be taken without 
attempting to escape. In the seas where this fish is generally found, the 
harpoon is usually employed for its capture, not so much on account of its 
strength, though a large 
specimen will sometimes 
struggle with amazing force 
and fury, but on account of 
its great weight, which 
renders its conveyance into 
a boat a-matter of some 
little difficulty; and the 
leverage obtained by the 
harpoon quite necessary. 
The flesh of the Sun-fish 
is white and well-flavoured, 
and is in much request 
among sailors, who always 
luxuriate in fresh meat after 
the monotony of salted 
provisions. In flavour and 
aspect it somewhat resem- 
bles that of the Skate. Its 
liver is rather large, and 
yields a very considerable 
amount of oil, which is 
prized by the sailors as an 
infallible remedy against 3 2 
sprains, bruises, and rheu- SUN-FISH.—( Orthragoriscus mola.) 
matic affections. 
One of the most curious peculiarities of this fish is the structure of the eye, 
which is bedded in a mass of very soft and flexible folds belonging to the 
outer membranous coat, while it rests behind on a sac filled with a gelatinous 
fluid. When the creature is alarmed, it draws the eye back against the sac 
of fluid, which is thus forced into the folds of skin, and distends them so 
largely as nearly to conceal the entire organ behind them. 
While swimming quietly along, and suffered to be undisturbed, it generally 
remains so near the surface that its elevated dorsal fin projects above the 
water. Only in warm, calm weather is it seen in this attitude, and during a 
stormy season it remains near the bed of the sea, and contents itself with 
feeding on the seaweeds which grow so luxuriantly at the bottom of the 
shallower ocean waters. 
The colour of the Sun-fish is greyish brown, darker upon the back than 
on the sides of the abdomen, and the skin is hard and rough. It often 
attains a very great size, one that was harpooned on the equator measuring 
six feet in length. Several species of Sun-fish are known. 
THE family of the Syngnathidze is represented by several British species. 
The SEA HoRSE is common in many European seas, and is sometimes 
captured on the British coasts. In all these fishes there is only one dorsal 
fin, set far back, and capable of being moved ina marvellous fashion, that 
reminds the observer of a screw propeller, and evidently answers a similar 
purpose. The tail of the Sea Horse, stiff as it appears to be in dried 
