36 CORYPH^ENA, LANCET-FISH, ANABASID^. 



the fish is alive. Another fish of this family, no less remark- 

 able for its form, is the Blepharis ; of which one species, in- 

 habiting 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. With this family may also 

 be ranked the Coryphcena, or Dolphin of the ancients ; which 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 enjoyment to the luxurious 

 Romans ; by whose poets this Fish was much celebrated. The 

 Dolphin of the moderns is not a Fish at all, but a Cetaceous 

 Mammal (211). 



560. The two succeeding families, T^ENID^E, or Ribbon- 

 shaped Fish, and THEUTID^E, or Lancet-fish^ must be passed 

 over with but slight notice. The peculiar characters of the 

 former are indicated by their name ; the species of which it con- 

 sists (some of them bearing a very close resemblance to the 

 ScomberidesB), being distinguished by their lengthened bodies, 

 much flattened at the sides, and having very small scales. The 

 Lancet-fish combine the small scales of the Scomberoid family 

 with the form and small mouth of the Chsetodon ; but their fins 

 are not scaly, like those of the latter. They are among the few 

 Fishes, which live on sea-weeds and other marine vegetables. 

 Several of the genera have sharp spines on the sides of the tail, 

 which they can draw back into a groove ; with these they can 

 inflict severe wounds upon the hands of those who touch them 

 incautiously ; but they are peaceful in their habits, never volun- 

 tarily making an attack, but contenting themselves with repel- 

 ling the assaults of their enemies. 



561. The peculiar structure of the succeeding family, ANA- 

 BASiDuE, has been already mentioned ( 538) ; and it adapts them 

 to a mode of life which the circumstances of this climate do not 

 render necessary. In cold or temperate regions, the ponds and 

 streams, which are capable of supporting fish at all, are not dried 

 up, except in seasons of extreme drought : but in tropical coun- 



