THE CEPHALINiE, OR SUN'FISH. 



199 



body and elevating its spines to the highest possible 

 degree_, as if endeavouring to wound in all directions ; 

 till, after having tired itself by its vain efforts, it sud- 

 denly expels the air from its body, and for some time 

 becomes entirely flaccid. When drawn towards the 

 shore, however, it redoubles its rage, and again inflates 

 its body ; in this state it is left on the sand, it being im- 

 possible to touch it without danger till it is dead." 



(176.) The CephalincB, or sun-fish, are a most sin- 

 gular group : they grow to an immense size, and look 

 more like the dissevered head of a fish, than the entire 

 animal itself. There are but few species yet determined, 

 only one of which (^Ceplialus hrevis) is found in the 

 European seas. It grows to a vast size, having been 

 said to reach the length of eight or even ten feet, and 

 the weight of 500 lbs. : it is sometimes observed to lie 

 on its side on the surface of the water ; on which occa- 

 sions it may be captured without difficulty. The false 

 teeth and mouth very much resemble those of the dio.. 

 dons, — the former being undivided. M. Cuvier affirms 

 that it is destitute of an air-bladder ; in which case it 

 probably swims at the bottom of the ocean. A new 

 genus of these fishes, Pedalion gigas Guild* {fig, 33.), 



of gigantic size, 

 inhabiting the 

 West Indies, will 

 ;vbe subsequently 

 I described. The 

 sun -fish are sup- 

 .f posed to feed 

 f principally on 

 crabs and shell- 

 fish ; and they 

 are known to ex- 

 hibit, during the 

 night, a high de- 



* The late and lamented Lansdowne Guilding, who, to the regret of 

 science, feU a victim to the ardour of his researches in the island of St 

 Vincent. 



O 4) 



