ACANTHOPTERYGII. 147 



blackish; remarkable for the extreme length of its gall-bladder; 

 a fact well known to Aristotle.(l) It also inhabits both oceans. 



Cybium, Cuv.(2) 



The body elongated, and without a corslet; large, compressed, 

 trenchant teeth, resembling lancets; palatine teeth all small, short, 

 and crowded. Several species are found in the hot parts of both 

 oceans; some of them become very large.(3) 



Thyrsites, Cuv.(4) 



Differs from Cybium in the anterior teeth, which are longer than 

 the others, and in having pointed, palatine teeth; no lateral carina 

 to the tail. 



This little subgenus leads insensibly to Lepidopus and to Trichi- 

 urus.(5) 



Gempylus, Cuv.(6) 



Similar to Thyrsites in the jaw-teeth, but there are none in the 

 palate, and the ventrals are almost imperceptible; an additional 

 mark of affinity with Lepidopus.(7) 



XiPHiAs, Lin. 



These fishes belong to the family of the Scomberoides, and approach 

 the Tunnies, particularly in their excessively small scales, in the ca- 

 rinae on the sides of their tail, in the power of their caudal fin, and 

 in their whole internal organization. Their distinguishing charac- 

 ter consists in the beak, or long ensiform point or tusk, which termi- 



(1) Arist., Hist., II, c. xv. The gall-bladder of the common Tunny is equally as 

 long. 



(2) Cybium, the ancient name of a dish prepared from the Tunny and from ano- 

 ther fish of the same family. 



(3) C. Commersonn, Cuv., Sc. Commersonii, Lacep., or Konam, Russ., 135; — C. 

 Uneolatum, Cuv., Mangelang, Russ., I, vii, 5o\ — C. guttatum, Cuv., or Sc. guttaius, 

 Bl., Schn. pi. v, Vingeram, Russ., 134; — C. maculatum, or Sc. maculatus, Mitch., 

 Ann. New York Lye, I, vi, 8; — C. Regale, Cuv., or Sc. regalis, Bl., 333, which is 

 also the Scomberomore Pluniier, Lacep., HI, 293; — C cavalla, or Guarapuca, 

 Marcgr. 178. 



(4) The ancient name of some fish of this family. 



(5) Scomber dentatus, Bl., Schn., or Sc. atun, Euphrasen and Lacep., or Acina- 

 cee batarde, Bory St Vincent. 



(6) The ancient name of an unknown fish. 



(7) Gempylus serpens, Cuv., or 'Serpens marinus compressus lividus, Sloane, I, 1, 

 f.2. 



