278 



VERTEBRATA: PISCES OR FISHES. 



the Trout, Salmon, and the other 

 members of the large and highly im- 

 portant family of the Salmonidse. 



The fishes known as Alwives, Shad, 

 Pilchards, Herrings, etc. or Clupeidse, 

 are malacopters which have a very 



compressed body, and the lower portion forming a more 



or less serrated edge. 



Trout, Salmo fontinalis, 

 Mitchell. 



FIG. 347. 



FIG. 348. 



Herring, Clupea elongata, Le Sueur. 



Blind-fish, Ainblyopsis spelceus, 

 Dek. 



Very different from any of the Malacopters hitherto 

 noticed is the Blind-fish or Amblyopsidse of the Mam- 

 moth Cave in Kentucky. This celebrated fish is about 

 three inches long, and the vent is before the base of the 

 pectorals, at the point indicated by the dotted line in the 

 wood-cut, and the eyes are concealed under the skin. 



To the Malacopters also belong the various families of 

 Eels the electrical Eels or Gyinnotidae, the common Eels 



FIG. 349. 



Eel, Anguilla tostoniensis, Le Sueur. 



or Anguillidse, theMursenae or Muraenidge of the Komans. 

 and others. 



The Electrical Eels inhabit the rivers and fresh-water 



