ihoots at fuch infe&s as happen to be fitting on the 

 tops of plants and other projedting objects near the 

 banks. In mooting at a fitting infect it commonly ap- 

 proaches to the diftance of from fix to four feet before 

 it explodes the water. 



When kept in a ftate of confinement in a large ba- 

 fon of water, thefe fifh afford a high entertainment, by 

 their dexterity in this exercife. If a fly or other infect 

 be fattened on the edge of the veffel, the fifh inftantly 

 perceive it, and, as if contending for the prize, con- 

 tinue to fhoot at it, with fuch admirable fkill as fcarce 

 ever to mifs their mark. 



The color of this fifh is whitifh, or very pa le brown, 

 with (commonly) four or five blackifh fafcias running 

 acrofs the body. The eyes are very large. On the 

 lower part of the dorfal fin is a. very remarkable large 

 black ocellated fpot, furrounded by a circle of a lighter 

 color. The fnout is finely calculated for the power of 

 exploding v/ater from it. The trivial name of Roflra- 

 tus, Which Linnjeus applied to this fifh, being not fuf- 

 ficiently diftinctive of the fpecies, but applying with 

 perhaps equal propriety to fome others of the genus, 

 I have prefumed to fubftitute that of Enceladus. 



I think it neceffary to obferve that it is not improba- 

 ble that the faculty of darting or mooting water from 

 the fnout may not be abfolutely peculiar to the fifh. 

 above-defcribed, but may perhaps take place in two or 

 three other fpecies. 



