82 



FISH GALLERY. 



Order IV. PI1YSOSTOM1. 



[Case 17.] Bony fishes with all the fin-rays articulated, only the first of the 

 dorsal and pectoral tins sometimes ossified ; ventral fins, if present, 

 abdominal, without spine. Air-bladder, if present, with a pneu- 

 matic duct (except in Scombresucidce) . 29 families : — 



1. Si/uridce. 2. Characimda. 3. Cyprinidtc. 4. Haplochitonidte. 

 5. Sternoptychida. 6. Scopelidce. 7. Stomiatidce. 8. Saimonida. 

 9. Percupsidte. 10. Galaxidce. 11. Mormyridce. 12. Esocidai. 

 13. Umbrida. 14. Scombresocida. 15. Cyprinodontidce. 10. 

 Heterupygii. 17. Gonorhynchidce. 18. llyodontidce. 19. Osteu- 

 yfossidce. 20. Clupeida. 21. C/tirocentrida. 22. Bathythrissida. 

 23. Alepocepkalida. 24. Notopteridce. 25. Hahsaurida. 20. iVo- 

 tacanthuhe. 27. Gijmnotidce. 28. Symbranchida;. 29. Muramidce. 



The Silurida, or Cat-fishes (Cases 17, 18), are a large family, 

 represented by numerous genera, which exhibit a great variety of 

 form and structure of the fins. The skin is naked or protected by 

 osseous scutes, but without scales ; barbels are generally present. 

 These fish inhabit the fresh waters of all the temperate and 

 tropical regions ; a few only enter the sea, but keep near the coast. 

 The European species (Silurus giants, fig. 08) is found in the 



1%. 08. 



"\\ ela ( Silurus giants). 



waters east of the Rhine, and is, next to the Sturgeon, the largest 

 of European freshwater fishes, attaining to a weight of 300 or 

 400 lb. The " Bayad " (Bayrus bayad) is common in the Nile, 

 and grows to a length of over five feet ; it is eaten. Arius, of 



