ACANTHOPTERYGII. 105 



expected that, as it died, opaline flashes would fleet 

 over the skin, but what really occurred was this : 

 when brought out of the water, it was silvery grey 

 with pearly reflections, but in a few minutes after 

 it had lain on deck, the whole body suddenly changed 

 to a brilliant green, (a permanent, not an iridescent 

 Colour,) the back dark, the belly yellower, almost 

 like gold, with blue spots ; this was the only change, 

 except that the hue became more dingy after death. 

 Alive, and in their native element, they are very 

 beautiful; generally appearing (judging from our own 

 observation) in parties of five or six, they would 

 play around, sometimes at the surface, and then 

 far down in the clear depths below. When they 

 turn in the water, their backs are dark one moment, 

 and the next gleam like polished silver, or mother- 

 of-pearl. These are among the cruel enemies of 

 the little Flying fish. 



FAM. VIII. TJENIADJE,* RIBBON FISHES. 



The members of this small family are much 

 lengthened, and flattened on the sides ; they have 

 small scales. Some of the genera of the last family, 

 which we were compelled to overlook, manifest an 

 approximation to this form. 



Lepidopus^ the Garter-fish. 

 The ventrals are represented by two small scales 



* Tawa, tainia, a ribbon. 



"|* Assr/j, lepis, a scale, and 7rovs,pous, a foot. 



F 5 



