SUN FI sir. 
379 
notice of, which was caught off Eerry Hearl, mcasurcfl seven 
feet nine inches in length with eight feet and a half in 
depth, including the fins, and it is probably the same that is 
now in the British Museum. But a more usual size scarcely 
exceeds the half of this, the general appearance conveying the 
impression of its being the anterior portion of some large 
fish that has been separated from the rest of the body, to 
which opinion the structure of the tail contributes not a little. 
Ihe example described measured three feet in length, which 
includes the tail; the depth of the body about two feet, but 
taking in the perpendicular fins, four feet. The head bony 
and thicker than the body, with a prominent ridge above thJ 
eye; the mouth under a short and blunt snout, small, capable 
of little action; no appearance of a tongue; each jaw merely 
an enameled surface of bone, but in the lower jaw, when 
cleaned from the flesh in the instance of a large individual, 
the surface of the concave portion had several projections which 
resembled teeth. The body about six inches thick; opening of 
the gills small, a little before the pectoral fin; eye lateral, of 
moderate size, moveable in its socket, furnished with a nictitant 
membrane. On the body several lines which seem fitted to 
facilitate the bending of its surface in active motion. The vent 
prominent, close before the anal fin; the pectoral small, round, 
received into a depression of the surfkce; the dorsal and anal 
triangular, at their base joined to the caudal; which latter is 
narrow, often waved, running the breadth or depth of the body, 
and in the recent state not easily distinguished from it. Colour 
of the back and fins dusky, sometimes nearly black, sides and 
belly shining white. The name of Sunfish will not appear ill 
bestowed when it is seen brilliantly shining on the surface of 
the sea with its side uppermost; an action supposed to be an 
indication of continued fine weather. In some smaller examples 
I have seen beautiful variegations of colour in stripes and 
blotches of yellow, blue, and white; and on one occasion an 
example was brought to me alive, with an appearance of 
distension or fulness, the nature of which appeared as the 
fish died in a large discharge of fluid of an offensive smell, 
from an outlet between the vent and anal fin; and on dissection 
this was found to lead to a large urinary bladder, which 
communicated with large kidneys by a couple of ureters. The 
