486 



Fam. 41. CEPOLID^. 



Tpenioidei, part., Ciiviei; Miiller, Owen. 

 Cepoloidei, Bleek. Emtm. Spec. p. xxvi. 



Body very elongate, compressed, band-like, covered with small 

 cycloid scales ; eye lateral. Teeth of moderate size. The infra- 

 orbital bones do not articulate with the praeoperciilnm. One dorsal, 

 which, like the anal fin, is very long, and composed of soft rays. 

 Ventrals thoracic, composed of one spine and five rays. No pro- 

 minent papilla near the vent. Gill-opening wide, with the gill- 

 membranes scarcely united below the throat ; branchiostegals six, 

 pseudobranchiae and an air-bladder present ; pyloric appendages in 

 small number. Caudal vertebrae exceedingly numerous. 



Temperate seas of Western Europe and of Eastern Asia ; one spe- 

 cies extending to the East Indies. 



Only one genus. 



1. CEPOLA*. 



Cepola, L. Syst. Nat. i. p. 445 ; Cuv. R^gtie Anim. 



Body very elongate, compressed, covered with very small scales. 

 Head obtuse, with the cleft of the mouth rather wide and oblique. 

 Eyes lateral, large. Dorsal and anal fins very long, composed of soft 

 rays, more or less contiguous with the caudal ; ventral fins thoracic, 

 composed of one si^ine and five rays. Teeth moderate; palate smooth. 

 Gill-openings wide, with the gill-membranes scarcely united below 

 the throat; gills four; pseudobranchiae present ; branchiostegals six ; 

 air-bladder large. Pyloric appendages in small number. 



Mediterranean. British coasts. Seas of China and Japan ; one 

 species extending southwards to Pinang. 



1. Cepola rubescens. 



The Band- fish. 



Seqiens rubescens, Rondel, xiv. cap. 8. p. 410 ; Gesncr, p. 863 ; 



WiUughhi, p. 118. 

 Myrus alter, Aldrov. iii. e. 28. p. 367 ; Jonst. tab. 5. fig. 5. 

 Taenia rubra, Wilhif/Jibi/, p. 117 ; Hai/, Si/?i. p. 71. 

 Tfenia, no. 3, Artedi, Synon. p. 115. 

 Cepola rubescens, L. Syst. Nat. i. p. 445 ; Bl. Schn. p. 241 ; Montag. 



Trans. Linn. Sue. vii. p. 291. pi. 17; Walh. Artedi, iii. p. 117; Briinn. 



Ichth. Mass. p. 28; Risso, Ichth. Nice, p. 153, and Eur. Mcrid. iii. 



p. 294 ; Donov. Brit. Fishes, v. pi. 105 ; Turton, Brit. Faun. p. 94 ; 



Yarr. Brit. Fishes, 1st edit. i. p. 195, 2nd edit. i. p. 224, 3rd edit. 



ii. p. 305 ; Couch, Trans. Linn. Soc. xiv. p. 76 ; Cue. Sf Val. x. p. 388. 



pi. 300 ; Guichen. Exp. Alger. Poiss. p. 65. 



* 1. Cepola striata, BL Schn. p. 242. — Tranquebar. 



