2786 



THE BONY FISHES AND GANOIDS 



flesh are firm, the general color is silvery, with lighter spots, but the fins are rosy, 

 and the total length is at least five feet. This fish, which has been taken in the 

 Atlantic off Madeira, and also in the Sea of Japan, probably dwells at a con- 

 siderable depth, although not so far down as the ribbon fishes. Its habits are un- 

 known. 



From the unicorn fish the members of this family may be distin- 

 guished by the absence of an anal fin, and by the caudal (which, as 

 in our figure, is rarely preserved in the adult state) being either rudimental, or 

 small and bent up above the axis of the body in a fan-like manner. The band-like 



Ribbon Fishes 



TTNICORN FISH. 

 (One-tenth natural size.) 



body, which may measure as much as fifteen or twenty feet in length, with a depth 

 of a foot and a breadth of not more than an inch, terminates in a short and deep 

 head, furnished with large lateral eyes, and a small mouth; the teeth being feebly 

 developed. The high dorsal fin is composed of a very numerous series of rays, 

 which are neither articulated nor branched, and has a detached portion on the 

 crown of the head elevated into tall filaments,* and the thoracically-placed pelvic 

 fins may consist either of several rays, or be reduced to a single long filament. 

 Scales are wanting; and the numerous vertebrae as well as the other bones, are re- 



* In our figure this part is represented as connected with the rest of the fin. 



