SOME RARE OR UNCOMMON FISHES 289 



comes off" when the fish is handled. Couch recorded the first 

 British specimen, which measured 27 in., and was thrown 

 ashore in 1853 near the Land's End. Most of the recorded 

 examples occurred in Cornwall, but cases have also occurred 

 on the Irish coast, while there was one at Swanage in 1872. 

 The jaws are provided with sharp curved teeth, and it probably 

 feeds on smaller fishes. 



The Scabbard-fish {Lepidopus caudatus) is silvery, like the 

 last, but the covering is not so easily detachable. The teeth 

 are barbed, and the lower jaw noticeably protrudes. The 

 ventral fins dwindle in this form to a pair of scales, but the 

 fish is otherwise scaleless. This is the famous " frost-fish " 

 of New Zealand, and grows to a length of 6 ft. Its weight 

 is insignificant in comparison with its length, owing to its 

 compressed form. It is one of the comparatively few fishes 

 that have never been taken by either hook or net, all the 

 examples recorded having been thrown ashore ; and in New 

 Zealand this occurs only on frosty nights. 



The Red Band-fish [Cepola rubescens), a distant connection 

 of the blennies, has been taken on our coasts on lines, but has 

 more often been washed ashore, wandering to our seas in 

 winter time from the south of Europe. The largest British 

 example, which measured 22 in., was taken in the Exe. It is 

 much more abundant in British seas in some years than 

 in others, but no reason, climatic or otherwise, has ever been 

 assigned for this. The fish is, as its name denotes, red and 

 band-shaped. Its scales are very small. The pectoral fins 

 are rose-pink, and there are yellow markings on the body. 

 The dorsal and anal fins are spineless, and extend along most 

 of the body, and the tail is pointed. The teeth are long and 

 pointed, yet the fish is said to feed only on zoophytes and 

 small crustaceans. If this be true, the fish has an extraordinary 

 armature of teeth for such work. 



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