RIBBON-PISHES. 



217 



(Trachypterus jacksonens-is) , and the Oar-Fish, better 

 known as " King-of-the-Herrings" (Regalecus glesne). 



The Ribbon-Fishes have a band-like body, which may 

 measure as much as 15 or 20 feet in length, with a depth 

 of T foot and a thickness of, often, not more than an inch. 

 This terminates in a short and deep head possessing large 

 "saucer-eyes" and a highly-protractile mouth, which, rela- 

 tively-speaking, is not very large. The teeth are very feebly 

 developed. There is generally a high dorsal fin, composed 

 of a very numerous series of rays, which are neither arti- 

 culated nor branched ; and this fin runs from the back of 

 the head to the tail. There is a small detached portion 

 on the crown of the head, elevated into tall filaments. 



Fig. 76. OAR-FISH (Rer/alcrus glesne). 



There is no anal fin and they do not possess any scales. 

 The young, which are not unfrequently found at the sur- 

 face of the ocean, are very unlike the adults, having the body 

 more like that of an ordinary fish, but remarkable for the 

 enormous development of the rays of the front part of the 

 dorsal and ventral fins. The dorsal rays are often several 

 times the length of the whole fish, and are furnished at 

 intervals with barb-like expansions. Ribbon-Fishes are 

 usually of a most brilliant, uniformly silvery appearance, with 

 roseate fins. The Oar-Fish is so named because of the 

 long oar-like ventral fins, while the name of "King-of-the- 



