CHAP. 40. (24.)—VARIOUS KINDS OF FLAT FISH.
There is another kind of flat fish, which, instead of bones, has
cartilage, such, for instance, as the raia,[1] the pastinaca,[2] the
squatina,[3] the torpedo,[4] and those which, under their respective
Greek names, are known as the ox,[5] the lamia,[6] the eagle,[7] and
the frog.[8] In this number, also, the squali[9] ought to be included,
although they are not flat fish. Aristotle was the first to call
these fish by the one generic name of sela/xh,[10] which he has
given them: we, however, have no mode of distinguishing them,
unless, indeed, we choose to call them the "cartilaginous"
fishes. All these fish are carnivorous,[11] and feed lying on their
backs, just as dolphins do, as already[12] noticed; while the other
fishes,[13] too, are oviparous, this one kind, with the exception of
that known as the sea-frog, is viviparous, like the cetacea.[14]
1. The ray.
2. The sting-ray; the Raia pastinaca of Linnæus.
3. The angel-fish; the Squalus squatina of Linnæus.
4. The Raia torpedo of Linnæus.
5. Galen, in his explanation of words used by Hippocrates, speaks of the,
bou=s qala/ssios, which is also described by Oppian, Halieut. B. ii. 1. 141,
et seq. He speaks of it as growing to the length of eleven or twelve cubits,
and having small, weak teeth, which are not easily seen, and compares it
in appearance to the roof of a house. Cuvier thinks, that although its
horns are not mentioned, a species of large horned ray is alluded to, which
is known by the modern naturalists by the name of Cephalopterus, and he
thinks it very likely these horns may have given it its Greek appellation.
Indeed Pliny himself, in another place, B. xxxii. c. 53, speaks of it under
the name of "cornuta," the "horned-fish."
6. A species of ray, most probably.
7. Cuvier suggests that this was the mylobates, the Raia aquila of Lin-
næus, which probably obtained this name on account of the width of the
pectoral fins, and its peculiar shape.
8. Ba/traxos a(lieu\s, the sea-frog, the Lophius piscatorius of Linnæus,
and the baudroie of the French. Cuvier remarks, that though there is
little solidity or firmness in the bones of this animal, it is not properly a
cartilaginous fish.
9. This is borrowed from Aristotle, Hist. Anim. B. v., who, however, says,
kai\ pa/nta ta\ galew/dh; from which Massarius, Turnebus, and Hippolytus
Salvianus are inclined to read "galei," instead of "squali." Both terms,
however, Hardouin says, are used to denote the genus which the French
call "chiens de mer," "dog-fish."
10. It is curious that Aristotle, though he was the inventor of this name,
has nowhere stated in what it originated. Galen, De Alim. Fac. B. iii.
c. 36, says that it is a)po tou= se/las e)/xeion, from the fact of their shining at
night.
11. Aristotle, Hist. Anim. B. viii. c. 5, and De Part. Anim. B. iv. c. 13.
12. In c. 7 of the present Book.
13. Aristotle, Hist. Anim. B. vi. c. 8.
14. Cuvier says that it is true that the sea-frog is oviparous; but it is
far from being the case that all the cartilaginous fishes but it are viviparous.
The rays, for instance, produce large eggs of a square shape, and enveloped
with a very hard horny shell. Aristotle, Hist. Anim. B. viii. c. 5, and B.
ii. c. 16, makes the same exception as to the sea-frog or frog-fish.