plate xcvir. 
* 
The hkory of ,hi, fish is so highly i„,„es,i„g, ,I„, svo have beeo 
tempted d, gross at more that, usual length, in order to insert whatever 
it !--C.n the Se „,g ^ 
servations are too paarile and presuming to merit criticism. 
L-t however an assertion so conndemiv advanced, might tend to mislead the unin- 
nnned, it will be inenniheat to say that the Opah is very fully described by Gine.in in 
edition of the Systeina Natura-, and it is equally eertain that Dr. Turton speaks of it 
To 
fro th " ‘''’""“'"S 
n other source.s: the author of Virarno. Katur. it is very evident, though Dr. 
iurton does not mention it. has furnished him with the .specific character which he ha,s 
adopted preference to that propo.sed by Gmeiin. Ile likewise adds, that tbe Opal, is 
n te Ttoh coasts, a circumstance omitted in the Graelinian description. VVv 
conceive it may no, he amiss to transcribe the words of G.nelin at length, and also those 
of iurton. in order to remove the slightest possibility of doubt on this subject th.at may 
e occasioned by the unqualified assertions of the British Miscellany. 
Zeus Luna: cauda subluuari, corpore ruheute allio-gullato. Du Uumd despCchesS- 
p- 74. t. 15. Pois.soii dc lune. 
Huiitm mari Normaneiiiain aUueute. ultra 3 pedn tau,.., diu caira a^a^uUaa, 
gentco, Cixlesti spl^.7i.iore Tefulgens. 
_ Caput hreve, 
•smn; rictus ampins; pmnm ruhre, cauda /ere alba- Ga^cl. Linn. Spst Aar. T. 1 p. 3. 
1225. n. 7. ^ 
Gmeiin is correct in describing the scales of tin's fish as being very small : in our spe- 
cimen they may be observed on close inspection, but at the first glance the skin appears 
perfectly smooth. The figure of the Opah ia the British Miscellany is inaccurate there- 
fore m this respect, for although it does not exceed the length of four or five inches, the 
scales are rcirrcsented more conspicuous than they appear in a specimen that nicasure.s 
twq or lluce feet in length. 
