no 



GIANT FISHES 



These are oceanic fishes, found in most of the seas of the 

 world, and probably live mainly in the upper layers of the 

 water. 



No fossil remains of Ribbon-fishes have yet been discovered. 



DEAL-FISHES. 



(Genus Trachypterus.) Fig. 38. 



The body is moderately long, and the caudal fin is usually 

 present. The pelvic fins are generally developed, and are 

 supported by from 5 to 9 rays. The lateral line is pro- 

 vided with bony plates, each of which is armed with a 

 spine, and gradually slopes downwards from the head to the 

 lower edge of the body, and joins that of the opposite side 

 beneath the end of the tail. The general coloration is brilliant 

 silvery, but dark spots and blotches may be present on the 

 sides of the body ; the fins are generally rosy in hue. 



Fig. 3d. — Northern Deal fish (Trachypterus arcticusj. 



The larger species grow to a length of at least 8 feet. 



A number of species have been described from Arctic, 

 temperate and tropical seas, but it is doubtful whether more 

 than about ten of these are really valid. Owing to the fragility 

 of these fishes, and the consequent extreme rarity of well- 

 preserved specimens in museums, it is almost impossible to 

 ascertain the distinguishing features of the species, and their 

 separation is further complicated by the fact that all these 

 fishes change their form considerably with age. The Northern 

 Deal-fish (T. arcticus) is widely distributed in the North 

 Atlantic, and specimens are sometimes washed ashore in the 

 northern parts of the British Isles, especially in the Shetlands. 



