; TEUTHID^; NOTACANTHID.E ; CEPOLID^. 57 



one species, inhabiting the West Indian seas, is known under the 

 appellation of the Cobbler-fish, probably on account of the long 

 thread-like appendages for which it is so conspicuous. The use 

 of these curious appendages is altogether unknown. 



617. The CORYPH^ENID^E, or Dorados, which have fre- 

 quently been placed amongst the Scomberidce, are distinguished 

 by their compressed bodies, surmounted by a very high dorsal 

 fin, running nearly all the length of the back, and all the rays 

 of which are flexible, although the anterior ones are undivided. 

 The anal opening is placed very far forwards, the abdominal 

 cavity being of small size ; and the anal fin, which is of great 

 depth, usually extends forward nearly to the pectorals. The ven- 

 tral fins are very small, or entirely wanting. These Fishes are 

 exceedingly active and voracious ; they are for the most part 

 inhabitants of the seas of warm climates, but one species is found 

 in the Mediterranean. This is the Dorado, the Dolphin of the 

 ancients ; it is a large and splendidly-coloured fish ; celebrated 

 for the velocity of its movements, and for the variety of tint 

 which its surface exhibits under a play of light. The changes 

 of hue which it undergoes when dying, were a source of great 

 admiration to the luxurious Romans ; by whose poets this Fish 

 was much celebrated. It is one of the greatest enemies of the 

 Flying Fish. The Dolphrh of the moderns is not a Fish at all, 

 but a Cetaceous Mammal ( 211). 



618. Three other small families, allied to the Mackerels, re- 

 main to be noticed. Of these, the TEUTHIDJE seem to unite the 

 Mackerels with the Chaetodons ; but they are distinguished from 

 both by their possession of several prickles, or a large sharp spine, 

 on the sides of the tail. With this spine some of the species can 

 inflict severe wounds when incautiously handled ; and a West 

 Indian species is called the Surgeon from this circumstance. 

 The Teuthidas are among the few Fishes which live on sea-weeds. 

 The NOTACANTHIDJS are of an elongated eel-like form, and have 

 the caudal extremity surrounded, as in the Eels, by a continuous 

 fin. In the CEPOLID^E, or Ribbon-fishes, the body is also greatly 

 elongated, but it is at the same time much compressed. The dorsal 

 fin is very long, often running the whole length of the back j but 



