CLASS OF FISHES. 



355 



branchial arches. The syngnathus and the hippocampus 

 belong to this family. 



497. The acanthopterygii comprise all osseous fishes 

 with the upper jaw moveable and comb-formed branchiae, and 

 in whom the first fin is supported by osseous and spiniform 



Fig. 325. Thon (the Tunny). 



rings (Fig. 311). The perch, the mackerel, the tunny (Fig. 

 325), the sword-fish, and nearly three-fourths of all known 

 fishes, belong to this family. 



498. The abdominal malacopterygii are distinguished 

 from the preceding by having the rays of the first dorsal fin 



Fig. 326. 



Fig. 327. Brochet, or Pike. 



cartilaginous, articulated towards the extremity, and generally 

 divided into several branches (Fig. 326). This character is 

 common to it with the two remaining groups of osseous 

 fishes, and to distinguish them it is necessary to add, that 

 the ventral fins are situated under the abdomen, behind the 



Fig. 328. The Anchovy. 



pectoral fins, and not attached to the bones of the shoulder. 

 To this order belong the carp, the pike (Fig. 327), the 

 silurus (Fig. 322), the salmon, the herring, the sardine, and 

 the anchovy. 



A A2 



