108 



RIBAND-SHAPED. 



ACANTHOPTERYGII. 



U1BAKD-SHAPED* 



THE SCABBARD-FISH. 



Lepidopns argyreus, Cuv. et VAI.ENC. Hist. Nat. des Poiss. t. viii. p. 223, 



pi. 223. 



Vandellius Lusitanicus, SIIAVVJ vol. iv. p. 99. 

 Xipotheca tetradens, MONTAGU, Mem. Wern. Soc. vol. i. p. 81, and 623, 



pis. 2 and 3 ; and vol. ii. p. 432. 

 Lepidopus Lusitanicus, LEACH, Zool. Misc. pi. 62. 



Scabbard- Jish, PENN. Brit. Zool. vol. iii. p. 210. 

 Scalefoot, FLEM. Brit. An. p. 205, sp. 116. 

 > argyreus, ,, or Scabbard -fish, JEN VNS, Brit. Vert. p. 371 . 



Generic Characters. Head pointed ; body without scales, elongated, com- 

 pressed, thin, riband-shaped : dorsal, anal, and caudal fins distinct ; the dorsal 

 fin extending the whole length of the body : two small scales on the abdomen 

 in the place of ventral fins : teeth in a single row in each jaw, compressed, 

 cutting, and pointed ; others very small on the palatine and pharyngeal bones, 

 and on the branchial arches : branchiostegous rays 8. 



OP the family of riband-shaped fishes, not more than five 

 species, belonging to as many genera, have been obtained on 

 the British shores ; and these so rarely that little is known 

 of their habits. 



Colonel Montagu first described the Scabbard-fish as a 

 British species under the name of Xipotheca tetradcns, 



* The family of riband-shaped fishes. 



