ICHTHYOLOGY 549 



processes for the attachment of muscles. Within the cavity of 

 the belly the inferior processes are absent, but are replaced by 

 lateral ones, to which the ribs are attached. These are usually 

 numerous, slender and flexible bones, each of which sends off a 

 branch of almost equal length and thinness. Some species, as 

 the Herring and Pilchard, Clupida, (from clupea, a shad or her- 

 ring,) send off thread-like branches from each of the vertebrae, 

 so that the bodies of these fishes seem to be filled with long and 

 slender bones. 



The form of the skull varies much in the different orders, but 

 generally it consists of pieces corresponding to those which form 

 the head in other vertebrates. The line of distinction between 

 the head and body it is difficult to draw, in consequence of the 

 entire absence of a neck. 



Teeth are very numerous, sometimes being found in almost 

 all the bones of the mouth. They are usually simple spines, 

 curved backwards, but the form is often much modified. The 

 teeth of the voracious SHARKS, for example, are flat and lancet- 

 like, the cutting edges being notched like a saw. In some spe- 

 cies of these terrible fish they are so numerous that upon open- 

 ing the mouth " the eye sees nothing but a forest of pointed teeth, 

 anyone of -which, if detached, would be sufficient to inflict a 

 most severe wound." In the Sharks of the genera Prislis, (Gr. 

 Saw-fish,) and Mustelus, (Hound-fish,) the teeth differ, being flat, 

 blunt, and tesselated. It is a remarkable provision that in some 

 species the teeth are arranged in series of rows of which the outer 

 one only is in use, the others remaining flat in the mouth until 

 called into exercise by the injury or destruction of the outer row. 

 The front teeth of the FLOUNDERS, (Platessa,) are compressed 

 plates; the WRASSES, Labrida, (from Gr. labros, greedy,) 

 have flat grinding teeth ; the SHEEP'S-HEADS, (Sargus, or Sparus 

 ovis,) have the grinding surface convex ; the Gilt-heads, Chry- 

 sophrys, (Sea-Breams,) have round, flat grinding teeth, ar- 

 ranged like the stones of a pavement, and often with strong 

 pointed canines in front, able to crush and grind to powder the 

 shells of the crustaceans and mollusks upon which they feed ; 

 the beautiful Chaetodons of warm climates, have, as the name 

 denotes, teeth which resemble bristles; the Perches have teeth 

 on the upper and lower jaw, slender, minute, numerous and 

 closely set ; the bold and fierce Pikes have teeth scarcely less 

 formidable in size, form and sharpness than the canines of car- 

 nivorous animals. 



The number as well as the form of the teeth greatly varies. 

 While the Pike, the Perch, the Cat-fish, and many others have 



