G94 



ICHTHYOLOGY. 



Classifica- 

 tion of 

 Fishes. 



GENUS XXXV. ODONTAGNATHUS. 



On each side of the upper jaw a long curved jagged 

 plate. This genus contains only one species, the O. 

 mucronatus. It was obtained from Cayenne, where it 

 is known under the name of Sardine. It lives in salt 

 water, and is considered as good food. 



GENUS XXXVI. MUR>ENA. Eek 



Kcl. Body furnished with pectoral, dorsal, caudal, and anal 



fins ; nostrils tubular ; eyes covered with the common 

 integuments ; body serpentine and viscous. 



It is a matter of regret, that the history of the species 

 of this genus should still be involved in obscurity. The 

 common eel is considered by some as oviparous, by 

 others as ovoviviparous, and the opinion of ichthyologists 

 is equally divided with regard to the reproductive or- 

 gans of the conger. The species are very extensively 

 distributed, being found in various parts of the new 

 and old world. Their flesh is used as food, but is con- 

 sidered as difficult to digest. The skins are employed 

 in place of ropes. 



GENUS XXXVII. AMMODYTES. Laitncc. 



Launce. Head slender ; caudal fin distinct from the dorsal 



and anal ones; upper lip doubled in. 



This genus contains only one species, which is a na- 

 tive of the European seas. Its trivial name tobianus 

 has been changed by La Cepede into alliciens, from its 

 being a tempting bait, we presume, to other fishes. 

 We cannot censure too severely such unnecessary in- 

 novations, as they perplex the student, and encumber 

 the science with a load of useless synonymes. 



GENUS XXXVIII. OPHIDIUM. 



Head covered with large scales ; body and tail com- 

 pressed and covered with small scales ; gill-flap very 

 large ; dorsal, anal, and caudal fins united. 



According to La Cepede, there are three species be- 

 longing to this genus, two of which are natives, and 

 the third was found by Fabricius in Greenland. He 

 distributes them into two sections. In the first is pla- 

 ced the O. bartialum, having a beard ; and, in the se- 

 cond, the 0. imberbe and unernak, which are destitute 

 of a beard. Risso, in his Ichthyologie de Nice, has de- 

 scribed a fourth species which belongs to the first sec- 

 tion, which he terms O. vassali. It differs from the 

 O. bar bat urn in the four filaments of the beard being 

 equal. 



GENUS XXXIX. MACROGNATHUS. 



Upper jaw produced ; body and tail compressed ; 

 caudal fin distinct from the dorsal and anal fins. 



La Cepede instituted this genus for the reception of 

 the Pentophthalmus of Ray, and another fish which 

 was found in the Dutch collection. The name of Ray 

 ought to have been employed from its claims to priori- 

 ty. The M. aculeatus is found in the Indian seas, and 

 its flesh is considered good. 



GENUS XL. ZIPHIAS. Srvord-Fish. 



Sword-fish. Upper jaw produced ; blade-shaped ; equal at least 

 to one-third of the length of the body. 



There are two species described by La Cepede as be- 

 longing to this genus, viz. Z. gladius and ensis. Some 

 circumstances appear to favour the supposition that a 

 third species exists, which has been confounded with 

 the gladius. After having, however, examined the fi- 

 gures and descriptions of several authors, in connection 



with this subject, we feel ourselves at a loss to offer a 

 decided opinion. The reader will find some judicious 

 remarks on the subject in the Scots Magazine for July 

 1811, and in the Memoirs of the JVernerian Society, vol. ii. 

 p. 58. In the last work, there is a figure of what is con- 

 sidered as the new species, which will, we hope, create 

 the curiosity of naturalists to, examine the subject. 



GENUS XLI. MAKAIRA. 



Snout produced ; two osseous lanceolate shields on 

 each side of the extremity of the tail. 



La Cepede formed this genus for the reception of a 

 fish thrown ashore at Rochelle. The fishermen called 

 it Makaira. 



GENUS XLII. ANARCHICAS. Wolf-Fish. 



Head rounded ; upwards of five conic fore-teeth in Wolf-fis.::. 

 each jaw ; grinders flat and round ; one long dorsal 

 fin. 



Three species of this genus are known to naturalists. 

 They inhabit chiefly the boreal regions, and furnish a 

 palatable food to the inhabitants. 



GENUS XLIII. COMEPHOHUS. 



Body long and compressed ; head and mouth large ; 

 rays of the second dorsal fin furnished with long fila- 

 ments. 



The only known species of this genus was found by 

 the celebrated Pallas in the Lake Baikal. 



GENUS XLIV. STROMATEUS. 



Body greatly compressed and oval. 



This genus contains five species, some of which are 

 found in the Mediterranean, and others in the equatorial 

 seas. The S. fiatola is the one which has been longest 

 known, and is remarkable for the agreeable brilliancy of 

 its colours. It inhabits the Mediterranean and Red Seas. 

 The S. pant, which is frequent on the coast of Tran- 

 quebar, is esteemed delicate food, its flesh being white 

 and tender. 



GENUS XLV. RHOMBUS. 



Body compressed and short ; each side of the ani- 

 mal appears like a rhomboid ; rays of the dorsal and 

 anal fins not articulated. 



The only known species of this genus was brought 

 to Linnaeus from Carolina by Dr Garden, and by him 

 inserted in the genus chactodon. The skin appears 

 to the naked eye to be entirely destitute of scales. 



ORDER XVIII. JUGULAR. 



GENUS XLVI. MUR^ENOIDES. 



Ventral fins consisting of one ray ; gill- flap of three 

 rays ; body lengthened and compressed. 



This genus was formed by La Cepede for the recep- 

 tion of the Blennius muraenoides of Gmelin. It form^ 

 a sort of connecting link between the apodal and the 

 jugular fishes of this division. 



GENUS XLVII. CALLIONYMUS. Dragonet. 



Head larger than the body ; eyes near each other ; Dragonet. 

 gill openings on the neck ; ventral fins distant ; scales 

 minute. 



There are five species of dragonets described by na- 

 turalists ; but it is probable that this number will be 

 reduced when the sexual differences are ketter known. 

 Mr Neill, to whose ichthyological labours we have al- 



