$90 OPAH DORY. 



the sea-bream : the length was three feet and a 

 half 5 the breadth from back to belly almost two 

 feet ; but the thickness from side to side not above 

 six inches : the mouth small for the size of the fish, 

 forming a square opening, and without any teeth 

 in the jaws : the tongue was thick, resembling that 

 of a man, but rough, and thick set with beards or 

 prickles, so that any thing might easily pass down, 

 but could not easily return back ; therefore these 

 might serve instead of teeth to retain its prey : the 

 eyes remarkably large, covered with a membrane, 

 and shining with a glare of gold : the cover of the 

 gills like the salmon : the body diminishes very 

 small to the tail, which is forked, and expands 

 twelve inches : the gill-fins are broad, about eight 

 inches long, and play horizontally : a little be- 

 hind their insertion the back fin takes its original, 

 where it is about seven inches high, but slopes very 

 suddenly, running down very near the tail, and at 

 its termination becomes a little broader : the belly 

 fins are very strong, and placed near the middle of 

 the body : a narrow fin also runs from the anus 

 to the tail : all the fins, and also the tail, are of a 

 fine scarlet ; but the colours and beauty of the rest 

 of the body, which is smooth and covered with 

 almost imperceptible scales, beggars all description : 

 the upper part being of a bright green, variegated 

 with whitish spots, and enriched with a shining 

 golden hue, like the splendour of a peacock's 

 feather : this by degrees vanishes in a bright silvery, 

 and near the belly the gold again predominates in 

 a lighter ground than on the back." 



