146 ACANTHOPTERYGII. — CEPOLADiE. 



inducing a habit of keeping near the ground, or 

 occasionally seeking cavities among rocks for 

 shelter, thus render them liable to be left dry by 

 the retiring tide, or destroyed by the force of 

 waves dashing them against such opposing sub- 

 stances ? The combination of great length with 

 extreme tenuity of body, by diminishing the 

 quantity of muscle, and at the same time pre- 

 venting its being brought into concentrated 

 action upon a single centre of motion, must 

 necessarily leave them at all times much at the 

 mercy of the currents, amid which they may 

 wriggle or float, but against which they are evi- 

 dently incapable of swimming with any vigor- 

 ous effort; by their struggles in the ocean, they 

 cannot fail to be speedily exhausted, and they 

 are rejected by the waves like inanimate matter, 

 upon any coast towards which the winds may 

 have driven them. All observers agree that the 

 taenioid [or ribbon-like] fishes are decidedly 

 pelagic." * 



According to Mr. Swainson, one species at 

 least of the genus is quite commonly met with on 

 the coasts of Sicily, and is habitually exposed for 

 sale in the fish-shambles of that island. From 

 other sources, however, we learn that the flavour 

 of its flesh is not held in much esteem. M. Risso 

 asserts that on the Mediterranean coasts of 

 France, the Band-fish lives principally among 

 sea-weeds in the vicinity of the shore, feeding on 

 crustaceous and molluscous animals. The state- 

 ments of these naturalists, therefore, do not seem 

 to confirm the general opinion of the oceanic 

 habits of this Family; or at least imply a less 



