Class IV. F AT H E R-L A S H E R. 219 



The head is very large, and has a mofl: formi- 

 dable appearance, being armed with vafi: fpines, 

 which it can oppofe to any enemy that attacks 

 it, by fwelling out its cheeks and gill covers to a 

 iaro;e fize. 



Et capitis duro nociiurus Scorplos idu. 



The hurtful Scorpion wounding with its head. 



The nofe, and fpace contiguous to the eyes, are Spikes. 

 furniftied with fhort fharp fpines: the covers of the ^ 

 gills are terminated by exceeding long ones, which 

 are both ftrong and very Iharp pointed. 



The mouth is large: the jaws covered with rows 

 of very fmall teeth : the roof of the mouth is fur- 

 nifhed with a triangular fpot of minute teeth. 



The back is more elevated than that of others 

 of this genus : the belly prominent : the fide-line 

 rough, the reft of the body very fmooth, and 

 grows (lender towards the tail. 



The firft dorfal fin confifts of eight fpiny rays ; 

 the fecond of eleven high foft rays : the pedoral 

 fins are large, and have fixteen \ the ventral three ; 

 the anal eight : the tail is rounded at the end, 

 and is compofed of twelve bifurcated rays. 



The color of the body is brown, or duflcy and 

 white marbled, and fometimes is found aiib ftained 

 with red : the fins and tail are tranfparent, fome- 

 times clouded, but the rays barred regularly with 

 brown: the belly is of a filvery white. 



This kind is very frequent in the Newfoundland American, 



feas. 



