ANTERIOR LIMBS OF BIRDS, ETC. 79 



to the right and left ; besides Avhich, the 

 gills, in throwing out the water backwards, 

 also perhaps contribute to it. Limbs, then, 

 being of subordinate use, are greatly reduced ; 

 the portions analogous to the bones of the 

 arms and legs, are extremely shortened, or 

 even entirely concealed, and rays, more or less 

 numerous, sustaining membranous, swimming 

 paddles, rudely represent the fingers and toes 

 of the hands and the feet. The fins which 

 represent the anterior extremities, are termed 

 the pectoral ; those which correspond to the 

 hinder limbs, the ventral." 



The pectoral fins are those situated one on 

 each side of the body behind the gills ; the 

 ventral pair are situated generally nearly in a 

 line below the former, and are close together 

 on each side of the middle line of the imder 

 surface. 



The resemblance of these fins to the ordi- 

 nary limbs of quadrupeds, or even reptiles, 

 wliich possess limbs, seems very remote ; yet 

 in several species, the rudiments of the various 

 bones may be distinctly traced, and will be 

 at once recognised by the anatomist. This is 

 peculiarly the case in that singular fish, the 

 angler or fishing-frog. In the pectoral fins, we 



