UNICORN AND RIBBON FISH 



2787 



markable for their softness and loose structure; the flesh being likewise of a flabby 

 consistence. The young, which are not unfrequently found at the surface of the 

 ocean, are very unlike the adults, having the body more like that of an ordinary 

 fish, but remarkable for the enormous development of the rays of the front part of 

 the dorsal and pelvic fins, and in a minor degree those of the caudal likewise. The 

 dorsal rays are, indeed, several times the length of the whole fish, and are furnished 

 at intervals with barb-like dilatations. Most ribbon fish are silvery in color, with 

 rosy fins. They are divided into three genera, of which Trachyptems has well- 



BANKS'S RIBBON FISH. 



(One-twelfth natural size.) 



developed pectoral fins, while Stylophorus has the tail produced into an exceedingly 

 long filament; Regalecus being distinguished by the reduction of the pelvic fins to a 

 pair of long filaments with dilated extremities, and the small size or rudimentary 

 condition of the caudal. Our figured example {R. banksi) belongs to the third 

 genus, and has the body of considerable relative depth, but in a much smaller In- 

 dian form (./?. russelli] the body is so slender as to have a rod-like appearance. 

 Banks' s ribbon fish appears to be only known from specimens cast ashore on the 

 British coast, the first of these having been stranded at Whitby in January, 1759, 



