58 
SCABBARD FISHES. 
This family of fishes is distinguished by the great length 
of the body, which is thin and tapering, in some species 
having no scales, and when they exist they are of very small 
size. The jaws protrude much, and the cleft of the mouth is 
wide, with prominent teeth. The gill-openings are also wide. 
The dorsal and anal fins are long, and separate from the tail 
where the latter exists; the ventrals, which are seated under 
the throat (jugular) when there arc any, are morely rudimentary; 
but in some species there are none. The Scabbard Fishes 
were by Cuvier classed among those which are termed Band 
or Ribbon Fishes, to which in their general shape they bear 
much resemblance. But on more strict examination they are 
found to differ in so many of their characters, as they appear 
to do also in their habits; and some of them partake so much 
of what may be called the aberrant forms of the family of 
the Mackarels, that it is thought preferable to depart in this 
instance from the arrangement of the illustrious French natu- 
ralist, and to adopt that which is pursued by Dr. Giinther, in 
his newly-published “Catalogue of the Fishes in the British 
Museum.” 
