286 Cavallas and Pampanos 



quarter feet long, was thrown by a storm on the coast of Wash- 

 ington, near the Quinnault agency. 



The family of Zaprorida contains also a single large species, 

 Zaprora silenus, without ventrals, but scaly and firm in sub- 

 stance. One specimen i\ feet long was taken at Nanaimo on 

 Vancouver Island and a smaller one at Victoria. 



The Pomfrets: Bramidae. The Bramidoz are broad-bodied 

 fishes of the open seas, covered with firm adherent scales. The 

 flesh is firm and the skeleton heavy, the hypercoracoid espe- 

 cially much dilated. Of the various species the pomfret, or 

 black bream (Brama rail), is the best known and most widely 

 diffused. It reaches a length of two to four feet and is sooty black 

 in color. It is not rare in Europe and has been occasionally 

 taken at Grand Bank off Newfoundland, at the Bermudas, off 

 the coast of Washington, on Santa Catalina Island, and in Japan. 

 It is an excellent food-fish, but is seldom seen unless driven 

 ashore by storms. 



Steinegeria rubescens of the Gulf of Mexico is a little-known 

 deep-sea fish allied to Brama, but placed by Jordan and Ever- 

 mann in a distinct family, Steinegeriidce. 



Closely related to the Bramidcs is the small family of Ptera- 

 clidce, silvery fishes with large firm scales, living near the sur- 

 face in the ocean currents. In these fishes the ventral fins 

 are placed well forward, fairly to be called jugular, and the 

 rays of the dorsal and anal, all inarticulate or spine-like, are 

 excessively prolonged. The species, none of them well known, 

 are referred to four genera Pteraclis, Bentenia, Centropholis, 

 and Velifer. They are occasionally taken in ocean currents, 

 chiefly about Japan and Madeira. 



Fossil forms more or less remotely allied to the Bramidce are 

 recorded from the Eocene and Miocene. Among these are Acan- 

 thonemus, and perhaps Pseudovomer. 



The Dolphins: Coryphaenidae. The dolphins, or dorados 

 (Coryph&nidce) , are large, swift sea-fishes, with elongate, com- 

 pressed bodies, elevated heads, sharp like the cut-water of a 

 boat, and with the caudal fin very strong. The long dorsal 

 fin, elevated like a crest on the head, is without spines. The 

 high forehead characteristic of the dolphin is developed only in 

 the adult male. The flesh of the dolphin is valued as food. 



