TELEOSTEI. 409 



they timidly approach the banks of the morass, where they are 

 wounded by harpoons, and drawn on shore by non-conducting 

 pieces of dry wood. 



" Such is the remarkable contest between horses and fish. 

 That which constitutes the invisible but living weapon of these 

 inhabitants of the waters that which, awakened by the con- 

 tact of moist and dissimilar particles, circulates through all the 

 organs of animals or plants that which, flashing amid the 

 roar of thunder, illuminates the wide canopy of heaven which 

 binds iron to iron, and directs the silent recurring course of 

 the magnetic needle all, like the refracted rays of light, flow 

 from one common source, and all blend together into one 

 eternal all-pervading power." 



The second group of the Malacoptcri is that of the Abdomi- 

 nalia, in which there are ventral fins, and these are abdominal 

 in position. Space will not permit of more here than merely 

 mentioning that in this section are contained amongst others 

 the well-known and important groups of the Clupeidce. (Herring 

 tribe), the Pikes (Esocida), the Carps, Barbels, Roach, Chub, 

 Minnow, &c. (Cyprinida), and the Salmonidcz, comprising the 

 various species of Salmon and Trout. Also belonging to this 

 group are the Sheat-fishes (Siluridce), which are chiefly noticeable 

 because they are amongst the small number of living fishes pos- 

 sessed of structures of the same nature as the fossil spines known 

 as " ichthyodorulites." The structure in question consists of 

 the first ray of the pectoral fins, which is largely developed, and 

 constitutes a formidable spine, which the animal can erect and 

 depress at pleasure. Unlike the old " ichthyodorulites," how- 

 ever, the spines of the Siluridce have their bases modified 

 for articulation with another bone, and they are not simply 

 hollow and implanted in the flesh. The "Siluroids " are also 

 remarkable for their resemblance to certain of the extinct 

 Ganoid fishes (e.g., Pterichthys, Coccosteus, &c.), caused by the 

 fact that the head is protected with an exoskeleton of dermal 

 bones. The largest European species is the Silurus glanis of 

 the Swiss lakes, and of various European rivers. Another 

 remarkable member of this family is the Malapterurus of the 

 Nile and west coast of Africa, which is endowed with electrical 

 powers. 



SUB-ORDER B. ANACANTHINI. This sub-order is distin- 

 guished by the fact that the fins are entirely supported by 

 "soft" rays, and never possess " spiny" rays; whilst the ven- 

 tral fins are either wanting, or, if present, are placed under the 

 throat, beneath or in advance of the pectorals, and supported 

 by the pectoral arch. The swim-bladder may be wanting, but 



