fishes of new zealand. 36 



Regalecus. 



Eacli ventral fin reduced to a long filament, dilated at tlie extremity ; 

 caudal rudimentary or absent. 



Europe, Cape of Good Hope, India. 



66. REGALECUS GLADIUS. Walb.? 



Oar Pish, 

 B. gladius, Gunth., Ill,, 308, 



Detached anterior portion of dorsal with few spines. 



Light grey, purplish on the back j doi-sal fin margined with red; 

 head bluish grey. 



Cast on shore at Nelson, and described by W. T. L. Travel's, Esq, 



The following is Dr. Giinther's description of R. gladim: — 

 B. 6; D. 340; A. 0; P. 14; V. 1, 



The length of the head equals the height of the body, which is con- 

 tained five times and two-thiixls in the distance of the vent from the 

 snout ; the snout is truncated, the cleft of the mouth vertical, and the 

 upper jaw very protractile ; a series of minute teeth in each of the jaws ; 

 the single ventral ray very long, terminating in a broad lobe, and another 

 cutaneous flap on the second third of its length ; the anterior twelve 

 dorsal rays are produced, the first five forming a separate division over 

 the eye ; skin covered with small tubercles. 



Mediterranean, Bermuda, Cape of Good Hope. 



MUGILID^. 



Body oblong, covered with cycloid scales ; no lateral line ; mouth 

 small or moderate, without or with feeble teeth ; two short dorsal Jins, 

 the first with four stiff spines ; anal rather longer than the second 

 dorsal ; ventrals abdominal. 



Feed on soft organic substances or small animals. 



MUGIL. 



Cleft of mouth short, no teeth in the jaws ; anterior margin of 

 mandible sharp. 



All temperate and tropical regions, passing part of the year in fresh 

 watei". 



