ELACATIDjE. — LI. 103 



between?. 5. D. XVIII- 21. A. 20. W. I., rare N. (6<rT€ov, 

 bone; x«'P> hand.) 



The position of the next family is still uncertain. Common 

 opinion places it between the Remoras and the mackerel-like fishes 



Family LI. BLACATID^. (The Cobias.) 

 Body elongate, fusiform, with very small, smooth scales; head 

 long, low ; mouth moderate ; jaws with bands of small teeth ; chin 

 projecting ; lateral line present, wavy. Dorsal spines about 9, low, 

 all separate ; second D. and A. long ; two weak anal spines ; V. I, 5. 

 C. forked; no air-bladder ; no sucking disk ; pyloric cseca branched. 

 One species, in all warm seas. 



120. ELACATE Cuvier. (^XaKdn,, spindle.) 



258. E. Canada (L.). Cobia ; Crab-eater ; Sergeant-fish. 

 Dusky, sides with a broad black band. Head 4 J ; depth 5| ; D. IX, 

 33. A. II, 25. L. 5 feet. Warm seas, N. in summer. 



We now begin the great series or suborder of Soombriformes 

 or mackerel-like fishes, with one of the most aberrant members of 

 the group. 



Family LII. XIPHIID-^. (The Sword-fishes). 



Body elongate, naked ; bones of upper jaw consolidated into a 

 long stiff " sword " ; teeth disappearing with age ; D. long, without 

 distinct spines, the rays enveloped in the skin ; the fin divided into 

 two in the adult; A. similarly divided; tail slender, keeled; C. 

 widely forked; V. wanting. Gills peculiar, the laminae of each 

 arch joined in one plate by reticulations ; air-bladder simple ; py- 

 loric CEeca numerous. Vertebrse short, the neural and hsmal spines 

 normal ; ribs very few. One species, a very large fish of the open 

 sea, much valued as food. 



121. XIPHIAS Linnaeus. (^(0ia:, ancient name from ^l<fios, 

 sword.) 



259. X. gladius L. Sword-fish. Dark bluish. Head 2^; 

 depth 5J; snouts. D. 40-4. A. 18-14. L. 15 feet or more. Open 

 sea, N. to Nova Scotia. (En.) (Lat ; sword.) 



Family LIII. ISTIOPHOEID^. (The Sail-fishes.) 



Similar to the Sword-fishes, but with rudimentary scales, small per- 

 sistent teeth, and ventral fins of 1 or 2 rays ; air-bladder sacculated ; 

 rays of fins distinct, not embedded in skin. Vertebrae "elongate 

 hour-glass-shaped ; neural and haemal spines flag-like ; ribs well-de- 

 veloped." Two genera, with 5 species. These are smaller than 

 the Sword-fishes, but similar in character and habits. 



