HISTORY OF 7. The Blennius or Blenny. The body oblong; the head obtusely bevil; the teeth a single range; the fin covering the gills with six spines; the ventral fins have two small blunt bones in each; a species of this animal is viviparous. PRICKLY-FINNED THORACIC FISHES. 8. The Gobius or Gudgeon. The body round and oblong; the head with two little holes between the eyes, one before the other; the fin covering the gills with four spines; the ventral fins joined together. 9. The Cepola. The body sword-like; the head blunt; the mouth flat; the fin covering the gills with six spines; the fins distinct; an inhabitant of the Mediterranean Sea. 10. The Coryphaena or Razor-fish. The body wedge-like; the head very bevil; the fin covering the gills with five spines. 11. The Scomber or Mackerel. The body oblong; the line running down the side zigzagged towards the tail; the head sharp and small; the fins covering the gills with seven spines; several false fins towards the tail. 12. The Labrus or Wrasse. The body oval, the head middling; the lips doubled inward; both cutting and grinding teeth; the covers of the gills scaly, the fin covering the gills generally with five spines; the pectoral fins pointed. 13. The Sparus, or Sea-bream. The body oblong; the head middling; the lips not inverted; the teeth cutting and grinding; the cover of the gills scaly; the fins covering the gills with five rays; the pectoral fins pointed. 14. The Chaetodon or Cat-fish. The body oblong; the head small; the teeth slender and bending; the fin covering the gills with five or six spines; the fins of the back and anus scaly. 15 The Sciaena. The body nearly elliptical; the head bevil; the covers of the fins scaly; the fin covering the gills with six rays; the fins of the back jagged, and hidden in a furrow in the back. 16. The Perch. The body oblong; the head bevil; the covers of the gills scaly and toothed; the fin covering the gills with seven spines; the fins in some jagged. 17. The Scorpaena or Father-lasher. The body oblong; the head great, with beards; the covers of the gills armed with prickles; the fin covering the gills with seven spines. 18. The Mullus or Surmulet. The body slender; the head almost four-cornered; the fin covering the gills with three spines; some of these have beards; a fish highly prized by the Romans, and still considered as a very great delicacy. 19. The Trigla or the Gurnard. The body slender; the head nearly four-cornered, and covered with a bony coat; the fin covering the gills with seven spines; the pectoral and ventral fins strengthened with additional muscles and bones, and very large for the animal's size. 20. The Cottus or Bull-head. The body wedgelike; the head flat and broader than the body; the fin covering the gills with six spines; the head furnished with prickles, knobs, and beards. 21. The Zeus or Doree. The body oblong; the head bevil; the fin covering the gills with seven rays; the fins jagged; the upper jaw with a loose floating skin depending into the mouth. 22. The Thrachipterus or Sabre. The body swordlike; the head bevil; the fin covering the gills with six spines; the lateral line straight; the scales in a single order; a loose skin in both the jaws. 23. The Gasterosteus or Stickleback. The body broadest towards the tail; the head oblong; the fin covering the gills with three spines; prickles starting backward before the back fins and the fins of the anus. PRICKLY-FINNED ABDOMINAL FISH. 24. The Silurus or Sheat-fish. The body oblong; the head large; the fin covering the gills from four to fourteen spines; the leading bones or spines in the back and pectoral fins toothed. 25. The Mugil or Mullet. The body oblong, the head almost conical; the upper jaw with a furrow, which receives the prominence of the under; the fin covering the gills with seven rays. 26. The Polynemus. The body oblong; the head with a beak; the fin covering the gills with from five to seven spines; the bones that move the pectoral fins not articulated to those fins. 27. The Teuthys. The body almost eliptical; the head abruptly shortened; the fin covering the gills with five rays; the teeth in a single row, close, strong, and even. 28. The Elops or Sea-serpent. The body slender; the head large; the fin covering the gills double, with thirty spines, and armed externally with five bones resembling teeth. |