OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 113 



FAMILY XL DOLPHIN FISHES (Coryphoenida). 



Body compressed, oblong, or elongated ; teeth small, 

 conical ; the oesophagus unarmed ; no bony stay to the 

 pre-operculum ; the dorsal fin single, elongate, without a 

 distinct spinous portion ; branchiostegal rays five to seven 

 in number. 



This family group takes its name from the so-called 

 Dolphin (Coryphcena hippurus) of the Mediterranean and 

 sub-tropical seas, from whence is derived that conventional 

 representation of the Dolphin so largely utilised for artistic 

 purposes from early days to the present time. It is not 

 to be confounded with the true Dolphin (Delphinus\ which 

 is not a fish but a small cetacean, or member of the Whale 

 tribe. The only British representatives of the Cory- 

 Phoenicia^ and these being but accidental stragglers from 

 deeper or warmer seas, are Ray's Bream (Brami Rayi), 

 No. 44, of which an example will be found in the Day 

 Collection, and also a cast in the Buckland Museum ; 

 the Opah, or King-fish (Lampris luna), No. 45, a com- 

 pressed, Dory-shaped fish, resplendent with every colour 

 of the rainbow, the back being bluish-green, the sides 

 violet, fins and tail bright red, and large oval silvery spots 

 being distributed irregularly over the entire surface of 

 the body ; and lastly, the Diana-fish (Luvarus imperialis), 

 No. 46, a species which, having in the adult state ai> 

 elongated body and elevated forehead, very nearly resembles 

 the typical " Dolphin " (Coryphcend) of the Mediterranean. 

 The capture of but two examples in British waters has 

 been so far recorded, both from the Cornish coast. One 

 of these, measuring three feet nine inches, has been 

 deposited in the British Museum. Its colours in life, 



like those of the Coryphcena, are very brilliant, those of the 

 VOL. I. H. 



