SOFT-FINNED FISHES. 201 



fection. The great majority of fresh-water fishes 

 are found here, though associated with many that 

 are exclusively marine. A considerable propor- 

 tion of the species are ground-feeders ; fishes 

 which have the powers of swimming feebly deve- 

 loped, and are compelled to grovel on the mud at 

 the bottom, and lie in wait for passing prey. An 

 example of this kind we saw in the Frog-fishes, 

 among the Spinous-finned Order, but this is an 

 exception to the general habits of that energetic 

 group, and indeed is by some zoologists excluded 

 from its pale. 



The Order before us is surpassed by the pre- 

 ceding in elegance of form and brilliancy of colour. 

 Not that it is absolutely deficient of either : the 

 Herrings afford examples of the former, and not 

 a few of the great Salmon Family exhibit both 

 qualities in high perfection ; but, generally speak- 

 ing, they are not prevalent in the Order. In a 

 property, however, of much greater importance, 

 their utility in contributing to the sustenance of 

 man, the Soft-finned tribes vastly surpass all the 

 other Orders of Fishes put together. Among the 

 marine species, the various kinds of Herring, 

 Pilchard, Sprat, and Shad; the Cod, Whiting, 

 Pollack, Hake, Ling, and Barbot ; the Plaice, 

 Dab, Flounder, Halibut, Turbot, Brill and Sole ; 

 — among the freshwater species, the Carps, Bar- 

 bel, Tench, Bream, Roach, Dace, and Chub ; the 

 Pike ; the Eels ; the various kinds of .Trout and 

 Salmon, the Char, the Gwyniad, and the Pollan, 

 including their varieties and kindred species, may 

 be mentioned as being all of more or less value to 

 man. Many of these, as is well known, are the 

 subjects of important fisheries, the sources of 



