SCABBARD-FISH. 179 



with two longer ones. The vomer is not furnished with any 

 teeth, but the long external edge of each palatine bone has 

 one row of very minute teeth ; the pharyngeal bones and the 

 branchial arches are also furnished with teeth, but they are ex- 

 ceedingly minute. 



The pectoral fin is about one-fifteenth part of the whole 

 length of the body, and the lower rays are the longest ; the 

 two upper rays are short and simple, the other ten rays are 

 branched and articulated. The two half-circular scales in the 

 place of ventral fins are situated rather nearer the end than 

 the origin of the pectorals, and are connected to each other 

 at the base. The dorsal fin commences at the nape ; the 

 height one-fourth that of the body, the rays simple and 

 flexible. The vent is at an equal distance from each ex- 

 tremity of the fish, with a moveable triangular scale behind 

 it. The anal fin commences far behind the scale ; the tail is 

 forked ; all the membranes of the fins are slender and easily 

 injured. The lateral line is a narrow depression, which de- 

 scending gradually from the upper edge of the operculum, 

 afterwards passes along the middle of the body to the centre 

 of the tail. 



The irides are silvery, the fins greyish yellow ; the colour 

 of the skin of the body, which is quite smooth and destitute 

 of scales, is like burnished silver, with a bluish tint. The 

 fin-rays are — 



D. 105 : P. 12 : A. 17 : C. 17 : vertebrae HI. 



The difference in the number of fin-rays, according to 

 authors, leads to the supposition that more than one species 

 will yet be defined. 



The flesh is eaten, and, according to Risso, it is firm and 

 delicate. 



N 2 



