324 APPENDIX. 



poglossus or halibut; the platessa, flounder, fluke and flat-fish; the 

 pleuronectes or turbot ; and the achirm or sole. 



Of the apodals, or those without lower fins, we have the anguil- 

 lidcB or eels, and the genus conger or conger eel, and the ammodytes 

 or sand -lance. 



The subdivision lophobranchii, which is distinguished by having 

 little tufts at the gills, has the following families : 



The syngnathida, which have the body armed with transverse 

 plates, and have a large gill-cover and single dorsal. It includes the 

 syngnathus or pipe-fish, and the hippocampus or sea-horse. 



The subdivision plectonathi have concealed gills and a narrow 

 fissure for gill opening; the family gymnodontidce has in lieu of 

 teeth a bony substance like enamel, and includes the diodon or 

 balloon-fish and the tetraodon or swell-fish, both of which can inflate 

 themselves. The family balistidce is represented by the file or 

 fool -fish. 



Of the cartilaginous fish the eleutheropomi have free gills with a 

 strong cover, but no rays, and include the family of the sturionidce, 

 which have large bony plates in longitudinal rows and a mouth 

 underneath and toothless. The genus acipenser or sturgeon is alone 

 common. 



The order plagiostotni has fixed gills without cover ; the family 

 squalida, which has the gill-holes never underneath, comprises the 

 carcharias or shark, the lamna or mackerel shark, the mustellus or 

 dog-fish, the selachus or basking shark, and the zygcena or hammer- 

 headed shark. 



The family raiidce has a flattened body, large pectorals and bran- 

 chial openings underneath. It comprises the rays, the skates and 

 the devil-fish. 



The order cyclostomi includes the family petromyzonidce, which has 

 neither pectorals nor ventrals, comprising the petromyzon or sea- 

 lamprey and the ammoccetes or common lamprey. 



These are the principal varieties of fish found in the waters of the 

 northern section of America according to their scientific designa- 

 tions and their confused and intricate popular appellations. Perhaps 

 in time, with the diffusion of knowledge and the efforts of sportsmen, 

 uniformity may be obtained, and the language of Massachusetts be 

 comprehensible to the inhabitants of Iowa. To effect this object 

 should be the desire of all, and it is to be hoped that naturalists and 

 sportsmen will mutually aid one another by ascertaining the appro- 

 priate name of each species, and when ascertained, by applying it 

 invariably. 



