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and weak teeth. They differ much, and require 
Zeus, the Dory, has the first dorsal deeply notched 
between the spines, and the intermediate membranes 
extend into long- filaments, together with the forked 
spines along the bases of the dorsals and the anal. 
One species, the Common Dory (John Dory) is yel- 
lowish brown, with golden or silvery reflections, 
according to the position of the light, with a round 
black spot margined with white on the shoulder. 
[The Dory has been a renowned fish since the days of 
the ancients, who styled it not the fish of Jove, but 
Zeus, that is, Jove himself. The religious also claimed 
it as the “Tribute-money-fish,” from the black marks 
of the thumb and fingers of St. Peter on the shoulders, 
in which it is the rival of the Haddock — neither of 
which fishes Peter had any chance of seeing. It is 
still held in great estimation by epicures ; and being a 
ground fish, it keeps two or three days, and is all the 
better for it.] 
Capras, the Boar-fish, has the notched dorsal of the Dory, but no spines along the dorsal or anal ; it has the 
mouth still more projectile than the Dory, the body 
covered with rough scales, and the fins entirely with- 
out filaments. [Its flesh in little esteem.] 
Lampris,\i&^ a single dorsal very high anteriorly, 
as also is the anal, which has one small spine before 
its base ; sides of the tail with keels ; ventrals and 
caudal lobes very long, but subject to be worn away ; 
colour, violet, spotted with white, and the fins red. 
Inhabits the Arctic seas, and grows to a large size. 
[In Britain it is known as the Opah, or King-fish.] 
Equula. One dorsal with several spines, the fore- 
most occasionally long, snout much protracted, 
body compressed, and edges of the back and belly 
toothed with fins. They are small fishes, several 
of which inhabit the Indian Ocean, and some of 
them have the power of contracting the snout 
when at rest, and projecting it suddenly for the 
capture of those small fishes on which they feed. 
Menas, has the snout as in the last, but the body 
more compressed, the abdomen trenchant and very 
convex, but the back nearly straight ; the ventrals 
are behind the pectorals, but still attached to the shoulder. One only is known, of the Indian Ocean, silvery, 
with a black spot near the back. 
Stromateus. This genus has the same compressed form as Zeus, and the same smooth epidermis ; but the 
muzzle is blunt, and not protractile. It has a single dorsal, with a few concealed spines anteriorly, but no 
ventrals. The vertical fins are thickened as in the scaly-finned fishes ; the gullet has a number of spines attached 
to the membrane. They are found in the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean, and Pacific. Some of the species 
differ a good deal in form. 
Peprilus, has the pelvis trenchant and pointed before the vent, resembling rudimental ventrals, and some 
species have this part toothed. 
Luvarus, resembles the former, but has no trenchant blade on the pelvis, only a small scale, which covers the 
vent, and a prominent keel on each side of the tall. A large species, silvery, with a reddish back, is found in the 
European seas. 
Seserinus. All the characters of the last genus, save that there are little rudiments of ventrals. One small 
species is knowm in the Mediterranean. 
Kurtus, resemble Peprilus, but differ in having the dorsal shorter, and the ventrals larger; the anal is long, and 
the scales so minute as to be invisible till the skin is dried. They have seven gill-rays, a spine between the 
ventrals, and some small trenchant plates before the dorsal, which has a spine directed forward at its base. The 
ribs are dilated, convex, and form a continuous annular tube, which extends so far under the tail, and contains 
the air-bladder. Some have a little cartilaginous horn in advance of the plates before the dorsal. They are found 
in the Indian seas. 
Coryphcena, Dorades, or Gold-fishes, the Dolphins of the ancients, and of the modern Hollanders. 
They have the body long, compressed, and covered with small scales ; the head trenchant in the upper 
fishes with the mouth greatly projectile, and few 
division into various subgenera. 
Fig-. 137. — The Uory. 
