400 FISHES. ABDOMINALES. 



ened cirrus on each side of the abdomen ; tail long and narrow, 

 in a case of eight or nine scaly rings ; pectoral fins very large, 

 round, with a scalloped margin. 3 or 4 inches long. Inhabits 

 Indian seas. Shaw, v. pi. 182. 



P. nalans, Bloch. Swimming Pegasus. Snout slender, slightly di- 

 lated and rounded at the tip, and marked above and below by 

 a central furrow ; pectoral fins rounded, and of moderate size ; 

 dorsal fin on the middle of the back ; ventral cirri slender and 

 flexible ; abdominal segments eleven or twelve in number ; tail 

 small, slightly rounded. 3 or 4 inches long. Inhabits Indian 

 seas Shaw, v. pi. 182. 



P. volans, Lin. Flying Pegasus. Snout much elongated, flatten- 

 ed, slightly dilated at the tip, with a longitudinal furrow, and 

 crenated on the edges ; a rhomboidal depression on the head, and 

 two deep subpentagonal cavities behind it. 3 inches long. In- 

 habits Indian seas. Shatv, v. 462. 



ORDER VI. MALACOPTERYGII ABDOMINALES. 



Skeleton osseous ; jaws complete ; branchiae pectinated ; all 

 the rays of the fins soft, except sometimes the first ray of the 

 dorsal or pectoral fins ; ventral fins behind the abdomen. 



This order, which includes the greater portion of fresh water fishes, is divided by 

 Cuvier into five natural families. 



FAMILY I. SALMONIDES. 



Body scaly, with two dorsal fins, the second adipose, and without 

 rays. 



This family comprehends in the system of Linnaeus one great genus, characterized 

 by the first dorsal fin with soft rays, followed by a second smaller one, formed of an 

 adipose extension of the skin, not supported by rays. They are provided with nu- 

 merous ccecums and a swimming-bladder. 



Gen. 1. SALMO, Cuv. 



The greater part of the upper jaw formed by the maxillary bones ; 

 mouth large, and furnished with teeth ; ventral fins opposite 

 the middle of the first dorsal, and the adipose fin opposite the 

 anal ; branchial membrane with more than eight rays. 

 S. Salar, Lin. The Salmon. Upper jaw longest ; lower jaw turned 

 up in the male ; back bluish black, silvery gray on the sides, and 

 white below, more or less marked above the lateral line with ir- 

 regular brown spots ; teeth on the vomer ; flesh red. 2 to 5 feet 

 long. Inhabits European seas. B. Shaw, v. pi. 102. 

 The Salmon Fisheries in many parts of this country have long been an object of 

 national importance, and numerous Parliamentary regulations have been issued re- 

 garding the proper time and modes of fishing. Salmon annually ascend the rivers 

 great numbers in summer for the purpose of spawning ; and when this is accomplished 





