176 



RIBANU-SHAPED. 



AC A NTHOPTERYGIL 



RIBAND-SHAPED* 



■>^A^^:^V ^^V\^^WV VV\AVVv\- 



THE SCABBARD-FISH. 



Lepidopus argyreus, Cuv. et Valenc. Hist. Nat. des Poiss. t. viii. p. 223, 



pi. 223. 

 Vandellius Lusitanicus, Shaw, vol. iv. p. 99. 

 Xipotheca tetradens, Montagu, Mem. Wern. Soc. vol. i. p. 81, and 623, 



pi. 2 and 3 ; and vol. ii. p. 432. 

 Lepidopus Lusitanicus, Leach, Zool. Misc. pi. 62. 



Scabbard- fisli, Penn. Brit. Zool. vol. iii. p. 210. 

 Scalefoot, Flem. Brit. An. p. 205, sp. 116. 



Generic Characters. — Head pointed; body without scales, elongated, com- 

 pressed, thin, riband-shaped : dorsal, anal, and caudal fins distinct ; the dorsal 

 fin extending the whole length of the body : two small scales on the abdomen 

 in the place of ventral fins : teeth in a single row in each jaw, compressed, 

 cutting, and pointed ; others very small on the palatine and pharyngeal bones , 

 and on the branchial arches : branchiostegous rays 8. 



Of the family of riband-shaped fishes, not more than six 

 species, belonging to five genera, have been obtained on the 

 British shores ; and these so rarely, that little is known of 

 their habits. 



Colonel Montagu first described the Scabbard-fish as a 

 British species under the name of Xipotheca tetradens, from 

 its sword-like form and four elongated teeth in front, be- 



* The family of riband-shaped fishes. 



