ZOOLOGY. 175 



ORDER IV. 



Abdominales. — ABDOMINAL. 



GILLS BONY; THE VENTRAL FI NS SITU AXED BEHIND 

 THE PECTORAL. 



Most of the Fishes in this Order are Marine, some are 

 found in rivers and lakes, and a few species in ponds; of 

 some of the genera, all the species are applicable to the pur- 

 poses of food, but of others, many are rejected; we much 

 doubt if any species of fish is of itself poisonous, but may 

 have that effect from feeding on certain kinds of rnoIusciPj 

 that are deioterious ; the roes of several species, in this order 

 particularly that of the Baubel, are apt to disagree with 

 iTiany persons, on which account they are mostly accounted 

 poisonous. There are Twenty-one genera in the order. 



1. Cobitis. LociiE. Ej/es situated on the upper part of the 



head; 6of/j/ of almost an equal thickness throughout; 

 from the extremity of the upper ja',v, protrude several 

 beard-like appendages ; gill-membrane four or six 

 rayed, the covers of one piece, closing beneath ; one 

 dorsal Jin, 



2. Anablebs. Head sub-compressed ; mouth terminal ; 



teeth small, situated in the jaws ; eyes projecting with 

 double pupils ; gill-membrane six rayed. 



This is an anomaly among Fibhes, as it Tirtually posscsse* 



