INTRODUCTION. 



fin-rays ; forming what he considers as a secondary branch or scries closing 

 the great class of fishes. 



The large majority remaining, cleared as it now is of most of its more 

 puzzling, ambiguous, or aberrant forms, may for convenience, and without 

 disturbing any very close affinities, as by the illustrious Cuvier, after Ray 

 and Artedi, be first divided into two great series : viz. the Acanthoptery- 

 gian and Malacopterygian fishes ; the first having pungent, or, at least, 

 inarticulated bony rays (uKavdai, spines,') at the fore part of the back 

 (dorsal) and belly (atial) fins, such as the Perch, Garoupa, John Dory, 

 Mackerel, Tunny, Red and Grey Mullet, &c. ; and the second or soft- 

 finned fishes, (/laXaKai, soft, and Trrepuyec, wings or Jins,) comprising 

 those in which all the rays are soft or flexible, and jointed or barred ; 

 such as the Cod, Haddock, Herring, Turbot, Flounder, Sole, &c. in- 

 habiting salt water ; and most fresh-water fishes, as the Carp, Gold-fish, 

 Salmon, Gudgeon, Trout, Pike, Eel, &c. 



The principal subordinate groups, or families as they are called, into 

 which the first of these two main divisions has been next resolved, are 

 the following : 



I. ACANTHOPTERYGIANS, 



or, Spiny-Jinned Fishes. 



Percido' : — The Perch tribe or family. AlloM'ing for all the dismem- 

 berments which seem requisite, this group will probably remain the most 

 extensive of the series, excepting the Scombridee. It is characterized bv 

 a greater or less degree of armour about the head, caused by the presence 

 of teeth or spines on the cheeks, and opercles (gill-covers) or their edges ; 

 and by two narrow bands of numerous close- set teeth on the sides (pa- 

 latines), and a heart-shaped plate of the same in front (on the vomer) 

 of the roof of the large mouth within, besides the ordinary ones on the 

 edges of both jaws, which are also generally numerous. If there are no 

 spines on the opercle, the pre-opercle is toothed at the edge ; or, vice 

 versa : if the pre-opercle is not toothed, there are spines on the opercle. 



The shape of these fishes is usually oblong, compressed, neither very 

 deep nor much elongated ; their scales are generally harsh and rough to 

 the feel, or ciliate ; their colours brilliant ; red, brown, orange, and yellow 

 being the predominant tints. A few inhabit fresh water, but most the 

 sea. Their flesh is generally excellent, free from fat or oily qualities. 



Examples : — Perch, Basse, Weever or Sting-fish of England ; Cherne, 

 Garoupa, &c. of Madeira. 



MullidcE .-—The Red Mullet tribe. 



A small well-marked group, which assuredly ought to be separated 

 from the Percidae ; from which they may be easily distinguished by their 



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