opah no£v. l 189 



the whole shape of this fish much resembles that of 

 the sea-bream, but it differs in size, being much 

 larger, and in not having teeth nor scales : the fin 

 standing erect on the back has some aculei next 

 the neck, and rises up to eight inches ; but in the 

 middle diminishes to one inch ; and near the tail 

 rises again to about three inches : the belly-fin, 

 opposite to this, spreads three inches near the tail, 

 and diminishes towards the vent : the tail-fin is 

 forked, and spreads twelve inches : the gill-fins are 

 nine inches long, and three wide at their basis: the 

 two belly-fins were eleven inches long, and three 

 wide at their basis : it seems to be a new species 

 offish, not yet described by any author." 



Dr. Mortimer adds, that the Prince of Anamahoe, 

 on the coast of Africa, being then in England, im- 

 mediately knew it, and said it was common on that 

 coast, and very good to eat : the natives call it 

 Opah, and the English the King-Fish. 



The cavity of the abdomen, in the above speci- 

 men, is said to have been extremely small, and the 

 bones very strong, bearing some resemblance to 

 those of quadrupeds, particularly the shoulder- 

 blades (as they are termed), which were thought to 

 resemble those of a sheep. 



A second specimen was taken in the year l?69 a 

 near Newcastle, and is described in the British 

 Zoology by Mr. Robert Harrison. 



" Septr. Wth, 1769. 



" On Saturday last was thrown upon the sands 

 at Blyth, a very rare and beautiful fish, weighing 

 between seventy and eighty pounds ; shaped like 



v. iv. p. ii. 19 



