MALACOPTERYGIANS. 99 



spine, sharp as a lancet, which they have on each side of the 

 tail, with which they inflict severe wounds on those who impru- 

 dently take hold of them, belong to this family. 



34. The FAMILY OF MUGILOIDES, is distinct from all the pre- 

 ceding, and is characterised by an almost cylindrical body, 

 covered with large scales, a slightly depressed head, and short 

 muzzle, a transverse mouth armed with extremely fine teeth, 

 two separate dorsal fins, ventral fins attached behind the pectoral, 

 &c. They constitute a single genus, the Mullets, MUGIL,-- 

 which are much esteemed. 



LESSON VII. 



ORDER OF ABDOMINAL MALACOPTERYGIANS. Division. 



FAMILY OF CYPRINOIDES. Carp Gold-Jish.-* Gudgeon. *Tenck, 



FAMILY OF ESOCES. Pike. Exocets, or Flying -fishes. 



FAMILY OF SILUROIDES. Electric Silurvs, fyc. 



FAMILY OF SALMONIDES. Common Salmon. Salmon Fishing. 



Trout. Smelt. 

 FAMILY OF CLUPE^I. Herrings. Herring Fishing. Shad. 



Sardines, Jlnchovies, fyc. 



ORDER OF MALACOPTERYGII ADD OIYIIN ALES. 



1. This division is composed of Osseous Fishes that have the 

 upper jaw moveable, simple pectinate branchiae, the fin-rays car- 

 tilaginous : their ventral fins are suspended beneath the abdomen 

 and behind the pectoral fins, without being attached to the bones 

 of the shoulder. 



2. It is composed of five families, namely : the Cyprinoides, 

 comprising those fishes that resemble Carp; the Esoces, or 

 Pikes, &c.; the Siluroides; the Salmonides, the type of which is 

 the common Salmon ; and the Clupece, or Herrings, and other 

 fishes having the same organization. They may be distinguished 

 by the following characters : 



34. What are the characters of the family of Mugiloides ? 



1. What are the general characters of the Abdominal Malacopterygians ? 



2. How is this order divided ? 



