Glossary of Technical Terms Relative to Fishes. 
Abdominal fins. With reference to the ventral fins when placed well behind 
pectorals and the pelvic arch, to which they are attached, not connected 
with shoulder-girdle. 
Actinosts. A series of bones at bases of pectoral rays. 
Aculeate. Slender-pointed. 
Acuminate. Gradual tapering to a point. 
Adipose eye-lid. Broad fatty eye-lid of some fishes, sometimes covering most 
of eye. 
Adipose fin. Fleshy fin-like projection on the back behind the dorsal fin, as 
of salmon, catfishes, etc. 
Air-bladder. A sac placed below the backbone, filled with air, and corre- 
sponding to the lungs of higher animals. Air-vessel. 
Alisphenoid. A small bone on the front side wall of the brain-case. 
Amphicelian. Double-concave, usually referring to vertebre. 
Anadromous. Said of marine fishes which ascend streams to spawn. 
Anal, With reference to the anus or vent. 
Anal fin. Fin on median line of body behind vent. 
Anal papilla. A fleshy projection at vent. 
Anchylosed. Firmly grown together. 
Angular. A small bone on back end of lower jaw. 
Antrorse. Turned forward. 
Anus, External opening of the intestine. 
Arterial bulb. Muscular swelling at base of great artery. 
Articular. Bone of lower jaw supporting the dentary. 
Articulate. Jointed. 
Atlas. The first vertebra. 
Atrophy. Non-development. 
Attenuate. Long and slender, as if drawn out. 
Auditory capsule. The lower side swelling of the skull. 
Axis. Second vertebra. 
Barb. A small serrature, turned back. 
Barbel. Usually an elongated fleshy projection. 
Basibranchials. Lower median series of bones of the gill-arches. 
Basioccipital. A lower median hind bone of the skull which attaches the 
atlas. 
‘Basis cranii. Bones formed by shelves developed from inner sides of prodtics 
which meet and form a roof to myodome and a floor to brain-cavity. 
Bicuspid. Two-pointed, usually of teeth. 
Brachial ossicles. Actinosts. 
Branchie. Gills. 
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