MALACOPTERYGIANS. 93 



spine, sharp as a lancet, which they have on each side of the 

 tail, with which they inflict severe wounds on those who impru- 

 dently take hold of them, belong to this family. 



34. The FAMILY OF MUGILOIDES, is distinct from all the pre- 

 ceding, and is characterised by an almost cylindrical body, 

 covered with large scales, a slightly depressed head, and short 

 muzzle, a transverse mouth armed with extremely fine teeth, 

 two separate dorsal fins, ventral fins attached behind the pectoral, 

 cVc. They constitute a single genus, the Mullets, MUGIL,-- 

 which are much esteemed. 



LESSON VII. 



ORDER OF ABDOMINAL MALACOPTERYGIANS. Division. 



FAMILY OF CYPRINOIDES. Carp Gold-Jish. Gudgeon. Tench, 



Sfc. Sfc. 



FAMILY OF ESOCES. Pike. Exocets, or Flying-fishes. 

 FAMILY OF SILUROIDES. Electric Silurus, #c. 

 FAMILY OF SALMONIDES. Common Salmon. Salmon Fishing. 



Trout. Smelt. 

 FAMILY OF CLUPE;E. Herrings. Herring Fishing. Shad. 



Sardines. Anchovies, Sfc. 



ORDER OF IYIALACOPTERYGII ABDOMINALES. 



1. This division is composed of Osseous Fishes that have the 

 upper jaw moveable, simple pectinate branchiae, the fin-rays car- 

 tilaginous : their ventral fins are suspended beneath the abdomen 

 and behind the pectoral fins, without being attached to the bones 

 of the shoulder. 



2. It is composed of five families, namely: the Cyprinoides, 

 comprishing those fishes that resemble Carp ; the Esoces, or 

 Pikes, &c.; the Siluroidcs; the Salmonides, the type of which is 

 the common Salmon ; and the dupece^ or Herrings, and other 

 fishes having the same organization. They may be distinguished 

 by the following characters : 



34. What are the characters of the family of Mugiloides ? 

 1. What are the general characters of the Abdominal Malacopterygians ? 

 y. How is this order divided? 



