SCIENTIFIC SURVEY. 29 



his groups or orders, the eel and the sword fish, animals exceed- 

 ingly diiFerent in form, anatomical organization and habits. Such 

 classification does not, therefore, accord with nature, and will not 

 satisfy the student who wishes to investigate the hax'mony dis- 

 played in God's work, and realize if possible the range and extent 

 of the natural orders as they came from the hand of the Creator. 

 The nearer we can come to this — the more clear and satisfactory 

 and practically useful will be our views and knowledge of such 

 things. The deeper man penetrates into the arcana of nature the 

 more evidence does he find of method and system — of a beautiful 

 and harmonious classification and skilful connection of manifold 

 groupings, throughout the range and chain of animal existence, 

 and indeed of all organic life. To follow nature, and to unfold as 

 far as possible this classification, and the wise adaptations of means 

 to ends and to render the discovery of these facts applicable to the 

 practical business of our lives, has been, and still is, the legitimate 

 work and desire of the true naturalist. 



Modern Classification more conformable to Natural Orders. 



Hence, modern Ichthyologists, using the experience of their pre- 

 decessors and profiting by facts almost daily brought to light are 

 establishing an entirely different classification, one much more 

 conformable to natural orders, based on the unvarying anatomical 

 structure, and physiological functions of the general organs of the 

 fishes hitherto discovered. 



The classification I at present follow in the description of the 

 fishes found in Maine, is the arrangement as given by Dr. Girard 

 in his general report of the fishes found during the exploration of 

 the Pacific Railroad route. One still more modern may be followed 

 in the final report. 



This classification comprises ten orders. Each order is grouped 

 into families, and the families into genera and species. 



Enumeration of the Orders. 

 I. AcANTHOPTERi — Thormj fins. This order is made up of fishes 

 that have one or more dorsal fins. If more than one, the rays of 

 the forward one are stiff, sharp, inarticulated bony spines. If 

 there be only one fin the anterior portion has spine rays. The 

 remainder have soft articulated rays. The common perch affords 

 a good illustration of this order. 



