PISHES. 293 



long fast by feeding greedily upon the worms, small frogs, 

 and pieces of meat that were given to them. 



The largest specimen is about sixteen inches long and 

 two inches broad. The three specimens were presented by 

 Captain Chamberlayne to the Crystal Palace Company. The 

 rudimental filamentary fins are considered as analogous 

 to the four ordinary extremities in vertebrate animals. Their 

 internal supports are in each a jointed cartilaginous ray. 

 On the whole, the opinion of Professor Owen that the 

 Lejndosireu is a fish, lias been well sustained. Por, while 

 on one hand, the reptile-like development of the air-bladder, 

 and its conversion into an organ of aerial respiration ; the 

 tadpole-like appearance of the dorsal and tail fringe; the 

 external gills, so like those of young newts; and the 

 absence of regularly rayed true fins, seem to point to an 

 affinity with aquatic reptiles : on the other hand, its true 

 fish-scales, and many other points in its general anatomy, 

 show it to be a fish. Into these points I do not now enter, 

 but must refer my readers to vol. xviii. of the 'Transac- 

 tions of the Linnsean Society,' contenting myself with quo- 

 ting one argument of Professor Owen's. " In the organ 

 of smell, we have at last a character which is absolute in 

 reference to the distinction of fishes from reptiles. In every 



