SCIAiNOIDS. 



357 



Umbrines. 



produced, does not appear to be ascertained, although it has been suggested that 

 they may be due to the clapping together of the upper and lower pharyngeal teeth. 

 The umbrine of the Mediterranean (Umbrina cirrhosa), whose 



range extends southwards to the Cape, was a fish well known to the 

 ancients, and is a member of a genus containing about a score of species distributed 

 through the Mediterranean, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. Having an overlapping 

 upper jaw, it differs from the last genus in the presence of but a single short 

 barbel on the chin ; while the first dorsal fin has ten flexible spines, and the anal 

 either one or two. In size the typical species reaches about 3 feet. 



The third genus that we notice (Scicena) differs from both the 



preceding in the absence of any barbels ; the cleft of the mouth being 

 oblique and deep, and the eyes situated rather wide apart. The genus includes a 

 very large number of species, with a geographical range equal to that of the family ; 



Meagres. 



common meagre ( T \ nat. size). 



one of the best known being the typical meagre (S. aquila), ranging from the 

 British coasts to those of the Cape and Australia. Although most of the species 

 are smaller, this fish may attain a length of upwards of 6 feet. Yarrell states that 

 the flesh of the meagre " appears always to have been in great request with 

 epicures ; and, as on account of its large size it was always sold in pieces, the 

 fishermen of Rome were in the habit of presenting the head, which was considered 

 the finest part, as a sort of tribute to the three local magistrates who acted for the 

 time as the conservators of the city." It is certain members of this genus that have 

 taken to a fresh-water existence. 



The Sword-Fishes, — Family XiphiiDjE. 



With this small and well-defined family, all the members of which attain very 

 large dimensions, we come to our first representatives of purely pelagic fishes. 

 Sufficiently distinguished from all their allies by the production of the upper jaw 

 into the long, wedge-shaped, sword-like weapon from which they take their name, 



