RIBBON-FISHES. 



145 



his personal observation, in the Mediterranean, 

 adorn these fishes in their living state, — viz., the 

 margin of the fin purple or dark red, the basal 



BAND- FISH. 



part pink, and the intermediate portion orange or 

 yellow, a combination of tints very ornamental. 

 The caudal has eleven rays, of v^hich the middle 

 one is the longest ; its shape is that of a spear- 

 head. 



The Band-fish is sometimes taken with the 

 hook, but such a circumstance is rare ; and natu- 

 ralists are in general indebted for their acquaint- 

 ance with it to the violence of storms. Noticing 

 this fact, Mr. Yarrell makes the following sug- 

 gestions. " Does their elongated form prevent 

 their swimming with ease in mid- water, and, 



