N0MEIDJ5;. 



455 



deep scarlet. It is said to be excellent eating. It is a pelagic 

 fish, not rare about Madeira, but extending far northwards in 

 the Atlantic ; it seems to be rarer in the Mediterranean. All 

 the specimens hitherto obtained were fidl-grown or nearly so. 

 The skeleton exhibits several peculiarities, viz. an extra- 

 ordinary development and dilatation of the humeral arch, and 

 great strength of the numerous and closely-set ribs. 



Other Coryphajnoid genera are Pteradis, Schedophilus, 

 Diana, Ausonia, and Mene ; all pelagic forms. 



Sixth Family — IsToMEiDiE. 



JBodi/ oblong, more or less compressed, covered with cycloid 

 scales of moderate size ; eye lateral. No hony stay for the prce- 

 operculum. Dorsal fin luith a distinct spinous portion separated 

 from the soft ; sometimes fioilets ; caudal forked. More than 

 ten ahdomincd, and more than fourteen caudal vertehros. 



Marine fishes ; pelagic, at least when young. 



Gastrochisma. — Cleft of the mouth wide. Finlets behind the 



, yj^^^M-ii' 



Fig. 204. — Gastrochisma melampus. 

 dorsal and anal fins. The ventral fins are exceedingly broad 



