Learning XNA 4.0

Colophon

The animal on the cover of Learning XNA 4.0 is a sea robin fish (Chelidonichthys lucernus), otherwise known as a sapphirine gurnard. While the body of the fish is usually a somewhat bland color mix of browns, reds, and whites, its eyes are a striking peacock blue.

The sea robin fish is so named because it swims across the ocean floor and opens and closes its fins in a manner reminiscent of a flying bird. Some species of the fish also use their fins to fly above water for short distances.

In addition to having “wings,” the sea robin fish also has six “legs” (three on each side of its body) that were once part of its pectoral fin. These legs—which are really flexible spines—allow the sea robin fish to stir up and detect food from the ocean floor while walking.

The sea robin fish occasionally brings to mind yet another creature: when caught, the fish croaks like a frog. Chefs say the sea robin fish can replace scorpion fish in bouillabaisse, and add that the fish has firm and tender flesh when cooked.

The cover image is from Lydekker’s Natural History. The cover font is Adobe ITC Garamond. The text font is Linotype Birka; the heading font is Adobe Myriad Condensed; and the code font is LucasFont’s TheSansMonoCondensed.