148 PISCES. 



The texture of the skeleton, whether bone or carti- 

 lage ; the form of the jaws, whether moveable 

 or soldered together ; the gill-orifices, whether 

 several holes in the neck, or a single one opening 

 from beneath a lid ; the gills, whether arranged 

 like the teeth of a comb, or in tufts ; the rays of 

 the dorsal and anal fins, whether mostly soft and 

 jointed, or mostly hard and spiny ; the position 

 of the ventral-fins ; the form and toothing of the 

 gill-covers ; the form and arrangement of the 

 teeth ; the number of the gill-rays ; the size, form, 

 and extent of the scales ; the number and form of 

 the dorsal-fins or fin ; the form of the caudal-fin ; 

 the presence of spines ; the general shape of the 

 body ; the freedom of movement in the jaws ; and 

 the number of rays in the difi'erent fins. 



Authorities. — The arrangement proposed by 

 Cuvier, and modified by the Prince of Canino, has 

 been mainly followed ; while, for the appropriation 

 of species to our seas, no higher authority need be 

 sought, or can be found, than Mr. Yarrell's admi- 

 rable " History of British Fishes." 



Pisces. 



Vertebrate animals, having cold blood ; breath- 

 ing by means of permanent gil]s; inhabiting 

 water ; furnished w^th fins for locomotion ; pro- 

 ducing eggs. 



Skeleton composed of cartilage . . CartUaginei. 

 Skeleton composed of bone . . . Ossei. 



