class of animals is so generally used for food as fish, as 

 their flesh is mostly tender, well tasted, and considered 

 wholesome ; however, some of the salt water tribes, and 

 the roe of the barbel, are, in many cases, believed to be 

 poisonous. The skeleton of fishes is ordinarily bony ; 

 when these bones are found pointed and sharp, they are 

 termed rayed or ridged; and on this account, namely, 

 the species having spinous fins and firm bones, are recog- 

 nized as rayed or osseous fishes. Others, having the 

 skeleton cartilaginous, and without those bony fibers, are 

 termed cartilaginous fishes. In a few of the latter class, 

 the shark, for instance, the gill covering is immovable, 

 and gives foundation for a separate distinction. The 

 rest are classed according to the quality and disposition 

 of their fins, or bodily conformation ; and thus we find 

 them divided into eight orders, as follows : 



FIRST ORDER: . . . (Acanthroplerygii,) SHARP-FINNED. Distin- 

 guished by having the dorsal fins covered 

 with sharp spines, whether those spinous rays 

 sustain them or not. 



SECOND ORDER : . . (Malacypterigii AMomincdes,) SOFT-FIXXED. 

 Without the spinous rays, and having the 

 ventral lins situated behind the pectoral. 



THIRD ORDER : . . . (Malacopterygii Subbrachii,) SOFT-FLNXED. 

 With pectoral fins above the ventral ; spinous 

 rays wanting. 



FOURTH ORDER :. . (Malacopterygii Apodes,) SOFT-FISKED. With- 

 out ventral fins, as the Eel kind. 



FIFTH ORDER: . . . (Lapholranchii,) NEEDLE FISH. With loug, 

 slender bodies, r covered with firm skin. 



SIXTH ORDER:. . . . (Plectognathii,) BULLET FISH. From the glob- 

 ular form of their bodies. 



SEVENTH ORDER:. (Sturiones,) CARTILAGIXOUS FISHES. With free 

 branchiae, as the Sturgeon, etc. 



EIGHTH ORDER: . . (Selachii,) CARTILAGINOUS FISHES. Branchiae 

 adherent, as Sharks, Lampreys, Rays. 



