56 
ROOM XI. 
Nat. Hist. 
spines, which in most fishes support the front dorsal 
fin, instead of being united together, are separate and 
free. This is the case with the Pilot Fish ( Gaster- 
osteus ductor), and the Lichia (,Scomber glaucus). 
The next family of spinous fishes, the Tasnioids, re¬ 
semble the Scombers in general appearance, but their 
bodies are very long and compressed on the sides, from 
whence they are called Ribband 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 tetradens of 
Colonel Montague, who found it on the English coast. 
The Ribband 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 Man¬ 
tel-Piece is also another fish of this family (. Lophotes ), 
from the Mediterranean ; its short head is surmounted 
by an elevated bony crest, from the top of which springs 
a long spinous ray, fringed behind by a broad mem¬ 
brane, 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 Chastodon, but are furnished 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 the genera have sharp spines on the sides of 
the tail, which are retractile into a groove, and from 
the wound they inflict are ^ften called Lancet Fish, or 
Surgeons. The Monoceros ( Nctsens ) has the spines on 
the sides of the tail fixed and blunt, and the front part 
of the head produced into a horn. 
The Sea Mullets ( Mugil ), from the peculiarity of 
their form, have been separated into a distinct family, 
characterized by their having two dorsal fins, large 
scales, and a very broad flat head. 
The Blennies (. Blennius ) differ from the other spi¬ 
nous fishes, in their skin being slimy, from whence their 
name, and from the spines of their dorsal fin being very 
thin and flexible, but not jointed as in all the soft fin¬ 
ned 
