3 . 49 
THE OBLONG DIAQOif. 
'•the Oblong Biadon *. 
This fpecies differs from the former, not only in wantr 
ing the globe, but in being much Ihorter ; it refembles a 
carp, or fome thick fifli cut through by the middle. It 
fometimes grows to a very amazing fize ; fome have been 
taken five hundred pounds weight +. It is commonly 
little more than two feet in length ; fo that the thicknefs, 
to afford nearly fuch a weight, muff be very much dif- 
proportioned to the animal’s fize. 
The body of this fpecies is black above, and dappled ; 
below it is filvery ; it wants fcales, but is covered with a 
thick, hard, and rough fldn. The mouth is fmall for 
the fize of the fifli ; between it and the eyes there are two 
apertures for the noftrils ; but there are feveral other o- 
rifices in the head, the ufe of which has never been af- 
certained by any naturalift, though Willoughby fuppofeS 
that two of them cotrefpond to the organs of hearing i» 
Other animals J. 
The pe&oral fins are placed immediately behind the 
eyes ; they are fmall, and of a roundilh fliape ; the dor* 
fal and the anal fins are placed high, and at the very e% ~ 
tremity of the body ; the tail fin is femicircular, and fi^ 
up the whole abrupt fpace between them. 
• ©ftracion Loevis, Gronovius. t Borlafes’s Hill, Cornwall 
| Icjitbyiogia, p. IjX. 
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