OF FISH. 
28 7 
most parts of the ocean, is usually about a foot in length; 
the head large, equal in bigness to the body, which grows 
smaller gradually to the tail. 
The back is convex and black, and the belly white. It 
has six fins* two growing from behind the gills, two more 
under the throat, a long one on the back, and opposite to 
it under the belly, another of the same form and size; 
the tail is wedge-shaped. 
What this fish has peculiar to itself is, that the crown 
of the head is flat, and of an oval form, with a ridge, or 
rising, running lengthways; and crossways to this, six- 
teen ridges, with hollow furrows between, by which 
structure it can fix to any animal or other substance, as 
they are often found adhering to the sides of ships, and 
the bodies of sharks and other large fish. 
Sucking fish are often eaten, and much admired: in 
taste they are said very greatly to resemble fried arti- 
chokes. 
Straked Gilthead. ( Sparus . PI. 50.) The head 
of this fish is compressed, and bare of scales as far as the 
eyes: the mouth is large; the jaws are of equal length, 
with two strong canine teeth in front of each; the back 
teeth are flat, resembling the grinders of quadrupeds; the 
palate and tongue are smooth. The nostrils are single; 
and near the eyes; these last are small, with a black pu- 
pil in a blue iris. The aperture of the gills is wide, and 
the membrane mostly uncovered. The body is of a yel- 
low colour, with six or seven brown transverse stripes. 
The scales are broad, thin, smooth, and extend over part 
of the anal, tail, and dorsal fins. The lateral line goes 
straight along the back to the end of the dorsal fin; it be- 
gins again about the middle of the tail, and is lost in the 
fin. This fish inhabits the shores of Japan, and the 
Red sea. 
Four-Eyed Loach. (PI. 50.) The head of this spe- 
cies is broader than high, and fore shortened; the lower 
jaw is the longest, and it lengthens downwards, not in 
front like other fish. Both jaws, as well as the palate 
and tongue, are armed with teeth; the barbies arise from 
the corners or extremities of the upper lip. The nos- 
