Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-09-19
~ Ietroalpn !Noia 81 f.i.m1rs.


Tire Jetro1o1, Note az f.iaHssps.
This iish, extraordinary boih in lis sliane and
for the tareneSS ofils Appearance. was causht
with boat-hook bs the mate OF ship in our
harbour not many days ago. 1t weighed Il 30
ibS.-was i've feet !ony, three from the hack 10
the abdOmen--and abont eight inches thick
and IN The oddity and straugeucsS OF It's form
and proportions excited the surprise of every
ono who had an opportunity of seeing it. Ii
has been presented TO the L,unean Society of
TINS place, WHO have ID ina state Of preparation.
In the month OF August 1874 Il similar. but
larger fish was Jeff 10y The recejing tide upon
Dorchester flats: ard description, together
with The engraving of the animal, is given IN
the uaSSgchuScttS Magazine for October OF the
sant3 year. The animal lately caught, bears
4 strong resemblance 20 the character given Of
the former one, and of the descriptions Of Ma
turalistS
Writers differ in regard to the name which
they assign to thus creature Of the tinny race
II iscaiied by some the o5iOsy Sun fiSh thou. IA
fennant observes, there is no satisfactory rea-
SON tor this arpel'ation. he calls il the O5ioag
Lied0a and the French give IL the name of the
Noea Elsa and the Tee NGge0ate or swim
ming head, waich is sufficiently expressive Of
ITS appearance, 1t being " precisely like that
OF the head ana shoulders Of larger fish cut
oil, ami still retaiuing all the principles Of life
and visour." It's shape is like The half of am
eiipsiS, with the mouth IN the centre of curya.
lure. Lnpcus describe 1t as ubarmed, smooth,
compressed obiong, the tail very short, the d.
anu uOiSdi connected, SplrdCltS crescent
shaped. 1t inhabits the European and Medi-
terraneau seas, grows to a vast bulk, some
times 10 or 500 pounds weight, Vet seldom
exceeds , foot III length-the body is carl.
nate each side. the back black, sides silvery.
belly white, skin thick. mucous and rough
The eyes are obiculat, the nosil,is small, the
number of teeth i'll the lower jaw rs, which are
unequal, obtnse aud compressed tail is
surrounded with a circuiar band before the
fms which are black.
The fish which was found here % wears since.
weighed between AID 800 pounds, IT'S leagth
was four feet nine iuches its width two feet.
ana II was about one foot aud n half in thick.
ueSS.-lts mouth which was small had two
broad teeth with sharp edges. Tie ewes were
placed about o inches from the tip of the snont
and the pectoral fms were Immediately be-
hind them. It's spiraces were simlunar and
two inches round. There were several other
oritices in The head, which were supposed TO
correspond TO tue organs of hearing in other
animals" The dOrsal and anal fms were
placed nigh and at the extremity of the body
connected by the tail iiu which formed Il SORT
of irregular SemiciT cle.-But what has not
peen remarked by any natnraiIist-this fish,
ny the bottom of the larger fins had about 80
small tassels, about the size of large pack
thread, and three inches lonm, which Is ere fur
nShed with tutt OF pencil of hair at the end
IL concerned III other respects 10 the generic
character given by Iurton. What is most
remarkable in this creature" says Boriace in
his History OF Cornwall = is That so large a
iy on ITS hinder parts. This ia one conspcu-
Gus instance how afttuilS nature adapts the in
stfunient Of motion 10 the form of the body
which is TO lac moved. 1t in so long so Thin
aud so flexible. thata large fin III the former
parl would hinder its swiftness being itself
but one thicker fin ; it watts itself forward IN
a great measure by the mere bending OF its
back from side TO side, whilst lis wedge like
form and sharp pointed head easily cut their
way. But the chief momentnme is from be-
hind, where the tail fin is fixed like d rudder.
and an oar too, reaching from the top 10 the
bottom, 30 keep the whole body on its edge
more steadily, as we'll as to further aud guide
It's progress. AT each end VI this singular APP
Peudase, is I'm, the upper one raising Itself a.
low 1t, both by their spread increasing the
ioree OF these parts, co-ope rating with the wa
ry hexures of the body, aud accelerating its
ing at the stern OF d boat drives forward and
directs the whole machine"
: In the great scale OF animated nature" SAYS
Donoran IN his natural history of British FISH
es, " there are perhaps few creatures of a more
extraordinary appearance than the Tetrodon
lhola, or one more likely 40 excite surprise an
the curs0ry observer. SO remarkable indeed
is this appearance, that some might be Inclined
10 DOUBT tile existence Of a creature so formed
r. certainly sIigh5 degree of scepticism IN this
respect is not only pardOnable bur laudahle."
With regard to It's existence ana pecuIiaritIes
OF character aud formation, the curious NAV in
a few days be gratihed with the - ocniar
proof" Boston IND,