MAR 2 1900 



A. GUIDE 



TO THE 



ZOOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS 



EXHIBITED IN THE 



FISH GALLERY OF THE INDIAN MUSEUM. 



The Fishes are one of the five main divisions, or 

 Classes, of the Craniate Vertebrates, that is, of the 

 Vertebrates in which there is a brain, lodged in a skull, 

 or capsule of cartilage or bone. 



With the Fishes proper it is usual to include the 

 Cyclostontata (typified by the Lampreys) which agree in 

 most respects with the Fishes, but differ from them and 

 from all other Craniate Vertebrates in having no true 

 jaws. 



It has also been usual to include with the Fishes the 

 singular form Amphioxus, although, beyond the facts 

 that it lives in the sea and breathes through its mouth 

 and pharynx, it has no special resemblances with a 

 fish. 



Amphioxus, besides many other peculiarities, is dis- 

 tinct from the Fishes and from all other Vertebrates in 

 having neither brain nor skull, and will here, therefore, 

 i 



