446 
VERTEBKATA. 
THE CEPOLID^. 
HAWKEN S GTMNETEUS, 
This family includes several species of an elongated, compressed form, and called RibboJi-Fishes, 
Genus GYMNETRUS : Gymnetrus. 
— This includes Bank's Gymnetrus, 
G. Banksii., ten to twelve feet long, 
and less than three inches thick. It is 
of a beautiful silvery color, with a few 
blackish streaks and spots. It is found 
in the European seas. 
Hawken's Gymnetrus, G. Haivk- 
enii, eight to ten feet long, depth ten 
inches, thickness less than three inches ; color dusky green ; found in the European seas. 
The Deal-Fish, G. ArcHcus, is four 
to six feet long, breadth eight inches, 
thickness one inch ; found in the North 
Atlantic, and has been taken on the 
British coasts. It is called Vaagmaer 
in Iceland. 
The Scabbard-Fish, Lepidoiowi ar- 
gyreus, is four to six feet long, and swims 
with great swiftness : the skin is smooth, 
except a few scales in place of the ventral 
fins ; the flesh is said to be good. 
The Silvery Hairtail, Trichiurus lep- 
turus, is two to four feet long, of a shiny sil- 
very color; cn\[Qdi Ribbon- Fish on our coast 
and Sword-Fish in Jamaica. Extensively 
distributed along the Atlantic shores. 
Genus CEPOLA: Ccpola. — To this be- 
longs the Red Band-Fish or Red Snake- 
Fish, C. rubescens, one to two feet long, color 
orange-red ; moving in the waters it appears 
like a red ribbon. This, as well as other spe- 
cies of this family, is often found cast on the 
shores by storms. 
THK DEAL-FISH. 
THE SCABBARD-FISH. 
THE SILVERY HAIRTAIL. 
THE KED BAND-FISH. 
THE GRAY MULLET. 
THE MUGILID^. 
This family includes a few species having 
a spindle-shaped body, which is covered 
with large scales ; they generally inhabit 
salt water, keejDing about the mouths of 
rivers, ascendina; and descendiusr with the 
ebb and flow of the tide. 
Genus MUGIL: Mugil. — This includes 
the European Gray Mullet, M. capita, 
which is to be distino-uished from the 
other mullets of the genus Mulhcs. 
It is a small fish, common in Europe, 
and greatly esteemed for its delicacy. 
It is very active, and frequently es- 
capes from the fishermen by leaping 
over their nets. There are several 
other European species. 
