PLATE XXV. 
Mola Salviani, Orthragoriscus, Rondel. Sun-fish, JVillughbj/- 
1. t. 26. 
Tetrodon Levis, compressus, cauda truncata: pinna brevissima, dorsab 
analique annexa. Syst. Nat. 12. p. 411* 
7 i. 7. Gmelm. Syst. Nat. 1447. sp. 7. 
Sun Fish from Loo. Borlase Cornwall, 267. tab. 26. Jig. 6. 
Short Diodon* Penn. Brit. Zool. 3. p. 131. 55. 
In the great scale of animated nature, there are perhaps few creatures 
of a more extraordinary appearance than the Tetrodon Mola, or one 
more likely to create surprise in the mind of a cursory observer. So 
remarkable indeed is this appearance, that some might be inclined to 
doubt the positive existence of a creature so formed, and certainly at 
the first glance, a slight degree of scepticism in this respect is not 
only pardonable, but laudable. To those who are conversant with 
Natural History it cannot be unknown, for descriptions and figures 
of it have been inserted in several works on the fish tribe, and be- 
ing by no means unfrequent in the Mediterranean and other European 
seas, the fish itself may have occurred to the notice of those who 
reside near the sea shore. 
The Germans call this fish Schwimmendekogf, and the French 
tele nageante, or swimming head, a name sufficiently expressive of 
its appearance, which is precisely that of the head and shoulders of 
some larger fish cut off, and still retaining all the principles of lif c 
and vigour. 
The first figure given of this fish is supposed to be that by Salv 1 ' 
an. That of Pennant is certainly extremely bad ; and another by hi* 
