172 



FISH GALLERY. 



the sides. The Dolphins are so called from a confusion between 

 them and the Porpoise-like animals of that name. They are 

 pelagic in habit and pursue the Flying-fish; they are powerful 

 swimmers and attain a length of six feet. The display of rapidly 

 changing and flashing colours seen when the fish is taken out 

 of the water is of' short duration, and the fish when dead is 

 dull in colour. The flesh is highly esteemed. 



On the floor of Wall-case 17 is shown a remarkable, clumsy- 

 looking fish, Luvarus imperialis, 743, the sole species of the 

 family Luvaridas. It is widely distributed over the world, but 

 is not commonly met with ; occasionally, as in the case of the 

 specimen exhibited which was caught at Guernsey, the fish is 

 found in British waters. The mouth is small and set low down 



Fig. 82. — Dolphin, Coryphcena hippurus. 



the head and has a feeble dentition ; the dorsal and anal fins 

 are supported by inarticulated, widely-set rays, and there are 

 no free dorsal or anal spines. The pectoral fins are inserted 

 low down, and the pelvic fins are much reduced. The surface 

 of the body is rough, with minute scales. 



Zeorhumbiformes (Flat-fishes, &c). 



The Zeorhombiform fishes depart from the typical Perch-like 

 fishes in having the body strongly compressed and with the 

 precaudal region very short, the abdominal cavity being com- 

 paratively small and the anus set w r ell forward. The fin-rays 

 of the pelvic fin may be as many as seven or nine. The division 



