77 
most fishes support the front dorsal fin, instead room xi. 
of being united together, are separate and free. 
This is the case with the Pilot Fish ( Gaster - 
osteus ductor ), and in the Lichia ( Scomber 
glaums). 
The next family of spinous fishes, the Tae- 
nioids, are like the Scombers in general ap¬ 
pearance, but their bodies are very long and 
compressed on the sides, from whence they are 
called Riband Fish. One of these, the Garter 
Fish ( Lepidopus ), has the mouth long, and well 
armed with teeth, and the ventral fins reduced 
to small scales. This is the Zipotheca tetra - 
dens of Colonel Montague, who found it on 
the English coast. The Riband Fish (Cepola) 
differs in having a small oblique mouth and short 
muzzle, with the dorsal and anal fin united into 
a point at the tail. Over the Mantel-Piece is 
also another fish of this family, the Lophotes , 
from the Mediterranean ; its short head is sur¬ 
mounted by an elevated bony crest, from the 
top of which springs a long spinous ray, fringed 
behind by a broad membrane, and having the 
appearance of a feather. 
The family of Theutides combine with the 
small scales of the Scomberoid Fish, the form 
and small mouth of the Chsetodon, but are fur¬ 
nished with a single row of teeth with cutting 
edges, and their fins are not scaly. They live 
on fuci and other marine vegetables. Several 
of 
