144 
ACANTHOPTERYGII. — CEPOLAD^. 
rals small, rounded ; ventrals small, pointed, situ- I 
ated immediately beneath, or rather before the | 
pectorals, composed of stiff rays, attached by a i 
membrane at their base ; teeth prominent, curved, ii 
and sharp; stomach and intestines very short, I 
terminating a little v^ay behind the head ; air- j 
bladder very long, reaching to the tail. ! 
About nine species of this genus have been 
described, perhaps, ho'wever, not sufficiently dis- | 
tinct from each other, most of which inhabit the 
Mediterranean. One or two are occasionally 
seen on the Atlantic shoi;es of Europe, and one 
species inhabits the Chinese seas. They differ 
very little in form ; the shape of the caudal fin, 
the number of its component rays, and the posi^ 
tion of the pectorals and ventrals \vith respect to 
each other, — constituting the distinctions which 
have been relied on as specific. In colour their 
resemblance is equally exact ; a delicate tint of 
pink, in some specimens, even of the same species, 
deepening to a light vermilion, in others fading 
to a carnation or flesh-colour, is the universal 
hue, adorned in life with pearly, or silvery, or 
metallic reflections ; the fins are party-coloured in 
bands. 
The Eleven-rayed Band-fish {Cepola ruhescens^ 
Linn.) has been found on the shores of this 
country; numerous specimens having occurred 
of late years (if indeed all of them were of this 
species) principally on the coasts of Devonshire 
and Cornwall. Some of these attained the length 
of twenty inches; all were of the tender hue of 
pale red, varying in intensity, described above, I 
and some displayed the brilliant colours of the ! 
long fins, which Mr. Swainson informs us, from jl 
