GARFISH. 
149 
action not common to many fishes. The simplicity of this 
structure for grasping is equal to its effectiveness. 
The bones of this fish are of a light green colour, which 
some naturalists have supposed to he produced by the action 
of boiling in Avater. But it is the same when the fish is alive, 
as it is also in the European JJemiramphus, and, as Mr. 
Owen informs us, in the Lejndosiren. It in reality resides in 
some minute channels that pass through the bones for the purpose 
of nourishing them. Professor Given further remarks that this 
is the only known fish in which a cup and ball joint is found 
at the ribs; all other fishes having two cups, which meet at 
their rims, with fluid interposed between them. 
I have met with a curious irregularity in the formation of 
the lobes of roe, which were of no more than half the usual 
length, but four in number instead of two; and one of them 
at least had no communication ivith the common outlet, but 
seemed to communicate with the entrail. 
