ICHTHYOLOGY. 



165 



Introduc- we shall acquire ideas worthy of nature and of nature's 

 tion. (Jod. It is therefore not so mucii in the position which a 



*""^~i'"^^ being occupies in our pubUshed systems, which are neces- 

 sarily linear or consecutive, that we arc to seek for those 

 multifarious relations, or for the actual dccjree of organisa- 

 tion, — but in accurate descriptions of structure afforded 

 by those who possess the use of their eyes and pen. It 

 is not, however, to be in any way maintained that no di- 

 rect classification is possible, or that species should not be 

 formed into groups, and embraced by definitions. These 

 approximations are on the contrary so real, that the natu- 

 ral understanding of man has ever inclined towards them, 

 and in all ages and countries the vulgar as well as the 

 learned have formed their genera. It is in truth one of 

 the great objects of science to render the various groups 



into which, for our own convenience, we must arrange the Introduc- 

 objects of creation, as natural in themselves, and as near- i'""- 

 ly related to their neighbours, as is consistent with the ne- "C"^ 

 ccssity of placing them in our descriptive systems in a 

 single fixed position, — a [josition, be it remembered, in 

 which their numeroiis and mixed relations can neither be 

 philosophically exhibited nor fully expressed. 



We here terminate our introductory chapter, or gene- 

 ral exposition of the class of fishes, and shall now proceed 

 to a detailed enumeration of the characters of the principal 

 genera, adding, as occasion requires, a succinct descrip- 

 tion and history of the most interesting or important spe- 

 cies. We give in a note below a tabular abstract of the 

 Ichthyological System.' 



' Systematic View of the Orders, Families, Genera, and Sub-genera of Fishes, aecorilinii to the arrangement of Baron Cuvier. 



N. B In this abstract we follow the system of the Regne Animal, as sufficing for a tabular view ; but in the body of our article 



we shall introduce notices of such new or amended genera as have been signalised by our illustrious guide in those volumes of the 

 Hist. Nat. dcs Poissons, which have made their appearance posterior to the publication of the second edition of the Animal Kingdom. 



CLASS FISHES. 

 First Great Series, called ORDINARY or OSSEOUS FISHES. 



ORDER I ACANTHOPTERYGII. 



lAMILY I PERCID.E. 



With thoraeic ventrals. 



Seven branchial ratjs, two dorsals, 

 teeth small and crowded. 



Perca. 



I,abrax. 



Ijates. 



Centropomus. 



Grammistes. 



Aspro. 



Huro. 



Etelis. 



Niphon. 



Enoplosus. 



Diploprion. 

 Apogon. 



Cheilodipterus. 



Pomatomus. 



.Some of the teeth long and pointed. 



Ambassis. 

 I.ucio-Perca. 



JVith a single dorsal, and canine 

 teeth. 

 Serranus. 



Serranus proper. 

 Anthias. 

 Merrus. 

 Plectropoma. 

 Diacope. 

 Jlesoprion. 



IVith a single dorsal, and s?nall 

 crowded teeth. 



Acerina. 



Rypticus. 



Polyprioii. 



Centropristis. 



Gristes. 



JVith less titan seven branchial rays, 



A single dorsal, and some canine 

 teeth. 

 Cirrhites. 



A single dorsal, all the teeth small 

 and crowded. 

 Chironemus. 

 Pomotis. 

 Centrarchus. 



Priacanthus. 

 Dules. 

 Therapon. 

 Datnia. 

 Palates. 

 Helotes. 



Trvo dorsals. 

 Trichodon. 

 Sill ago. 



TVith more than seven branchial 



rays. 

 Holocentrum. 

 Myripristis. 

 Bervx. 

 Trachicthys. 



IVith jugular ventrals. 

 Trachinus. 

 Percis. 

 Pinguipes. 

 Percophis. 

 Uranoscopus. 



TVith abdominal ventrals. 

 Polynemus. 

 Sphyraena. 

 Paralepis. 

 MuUus. 



MuUus proper. 



Upeneus. 



FAMILV II. BUCC.T, LORICAT.i;, 



OR MAILED CUEEKS. 



Trigla. 



Trigia proper. 



Prionotus. 



Peristedion. 



Dactylopterus. 

 Cephalacanthus. 

 Cottus. 



Cottus proper. 



Aspidophorus. 

 Hemitripterus. 

 Hemilepidotus. 

 Platycephalus. 

 Scorpjena. 



Scorpaena proper. 



Ta;nianotes. 



Sebastes. 

 Pterois. 



Blepsias. 



Apistus. 



Agrlopus. 



Pelor. 



Synanceia. 



Menocentris. 



Gasterosteus. 



Oreosoma. 



FAMILY III SCI^NID^. 



With two dorsals. 

 Scisna. 



Scisena proper. 



Otolithus. 



Ancylodon. 



Corvina. 



Johnius. 



Umbrina. 



Pogonias. 

 Eques. 



With one dorsal, and seven bran- 

 chial rays, 

 Hasmulon. 

 Pristipoma. 

 Diagramma. 



With less than seven branchial rays, 

 the lateral line continuous. 



Pentapoda. 



I.ethrinus. 

 Cantharus. 

 Boops. 

 Oblada. 



I.obotes. 

 Cheilodactylus. 

 Scolopsides. 

 Jlicropterus. 



With less than seven branchial rays, 

 the lateral line interrupted. 



Amphiprion. 



Premnas. 



Pomacentrus. 



Dascyllus. 



Glyphisodon. 



Heliasus. 



FA.MILY IV SPABID-t. 



Sparus. 



Sargus. 



Chrysophris. 



Pagrus. 



Pagellus. 



Dentex. 



FAMILV V .MENID.E. 



IMaena. 

 Smaris. 

 CoBsio. 

 Gerres. 



FAMILY VI SUUAMMIPENXES. 



Chtetodon. 



ChseUidon proper. 



Chelmon. 



Heniochus. 



Kphippus. 

 Taurichtes. 



Holocanthus. 

 Pomocanthus. 



Platax. 

 Psettus. 

 Pimelepterus. 

 Dipterodon. 

 Brama. 

 Pempheris. 

 Toxotes. 



FAMILY Vll SCOMBEHID.I. 



Scomber. 



Scomber proper. 



Thynnus. 



Orcynus. 



Auxis. 



Sarda. 



Cybium. 



Thyrsites. 



Gempylus. 

 Xiphias. 



Xiphias proper. 



Tetrapturus. 



IMakaira. 



HIstiophorus. 

 Centronotus. 



Naucrates. 



Elacates. 



Licbia. 



Trachinotus. 



