58 



SCABBARD FISHES. 



This family of fishes is dlstinguislied by the great length 

 of the body, which is thin and tapering, in some species 

 having no scales, and when they exist they are of very small 

 size. The jaws protrude much, and the cleft of the mouth is 

 wide, with prominent teeth. The gill-openings are also wide. 

 The dorsal and anal fins are long, and separate from the tail 

 where the latter exists; the ventrals, which are seated under 

 the throat (jugular) when there are any, are merely rudimentary; 

 but in some species there are none. The Scabbard Fishes 

 were by Cuvier classed among those which are termed Band 

 or Ribbon Fishes, to which in their general shape they bear 

 much resemblance. But on more strict examination they are 

 found to differ in so many of their characters, as they appear 

 to do also in their habits; and some of them partake so much 

 of what may be called the aberrant forms of the family of 

 the Mackarels, that it is thought preferable to depart in this 

 instance from the arrangement of the illustrious French natu- 

 ralist, and to adopt that which is pursued by Dr. Giinther, in 

 his newly-published ''Catalogue of the Fishes in the British 

 Museum." 



