52 LECTURE VIII. 



as well as with branchiae or ramified gills. This 

 division differs from all the rest of the fish tribe in 

 having a cartilaginous instead of a bony skeleton, 

 and in being destitute of ribs. It consists of the 

 Lampreys, the Rays, the Sharks and a variety of 

 other fishes, and will be particularized after our 

 survey of the Linnsean fishes, or such as have a 

 bony skeleton, furnished with ribs. 



In passing through these I shall select a genus 

 or two of each division as an example, and parti- 

 cularize a few of the leading or principal species. 



Of the first division or the apodal or footless 

 fishes, in which the ventral or belly fins are want- 

 ing, the genus Murcena or Eel is one of the princi- 

 pal. The Eels are distinguished by their long 

 clyindric smooth body with a shallow back-fin, 

 uniting with that of the tail into a continued hor- 

 de!*; tubular nostrils, and eyes covered by the 

 common or general skin, which is transparent in 

 those parts. The Common Eel, which is so well 

 known as scarcely to require a particular descrip- 

 tion, is a very general inhabitant of almost all parts 

 of the ancient continent, varying in size and co- 

 lours according to the nature of the waters in 

 which it is found. I have before observed that it 



