ICHTHYOLOGY. 



709 



MSB 



Cbm'Sn- forms a kind of caviar named botergo, which is used 

 in Italy and the midland districts of France. The M. 

 albula, a native of the American seas, is likewise esteem- 

 ed an excellent dish for the table. In the M. crenila- 

 bis, a native of the Red Sea, both lips are curiously 

 crenulated on the edges. The M. tang, whose flesh is 

 fat and savoury, inhabits the rivers of Guinea. The 

 history of the remaining species requires farther eluci- 

 dation. 



~,_..~J CCIII. MCGILOIDES. 



Lower jaw carinate within ; scales striated ; one dor- 

 sal fin. 



The only known species, M. Chilensis, was found by 

 Molini at Chili. It inhabits the fresh water rivers, and' 

 grows to about a foot in length. 



Genus CCI V. CIIANOS. 



Lower jaw carinate within ; no teeth ; scales stria- 

 ted ; one dorsal fin ; membranaceous wing on each 

 aide the tail. 



The C. ARABICUS was first described by Forskael, 

 and is the only species known. It is a native of the 

 sea of Arabia, and was formerly inserted in the genus 

 Mugil. The scales are large and rounded, and of a 

 brilliant silvery colour ; the head is more narrow than 

 Use body, destitute of scales, and of a green colour 

 mixed with blue ; the upper lip is grooved, and longer 

 than the lower ; the latter line is curved at its com- 

 mencement, and then proceeds in a straight line to the 

 tail. Its ordinary length is about four feet, but one 

 variety, named Angrd, grows to nearly twelve feet. 



GCNCS CCV. Mtr.iLowonus. 



Lower jaw carinated within; no teeth, but protu- 

 berances in their stead ; more than thirty rays in the 

 gill flap; one dorsal fin, with an appendage to the 

 r.ij*. 



The only known species of this genus is the Mugil 

 appendiculatus of Bosc, the description of which was 

 communicated by that naturalist to La Cepede. The 

 trivial name imposed by the discoverer, was changed by 

 the last author into Anna- Carolina, in honour of his own 

 wife. 



GENTS OCVI. EXOC*TUS. Flying Fuh. 

 fch. Hud entirely covered with small scales ; pectoral 

 fins very large, reaching to the caudal fin ; gill-flap of 

 ten rays ; one dorsal fin situated above the anal fin. 



The species of this genus, which are four in number, 

 have the power of leaping out of the water, and flying 

 for a short distance, by the aid of their long pectoral 

 tee. The first species is the E. toUtant, or common 

 riving Ash, and has been long known to naturalists. It 

 very extensively distributed, being found in the Eu- 

 ropean, American, and Indian seas. In the dorsal and 

 ansJ fins there are fourteen ray* ; fifteen or sixteen in 

 ach of the pectoral fins ; ventrals small, and placed 

 nearer the bead than the middle of the whole length of 

 the fish. The stomach can scarcely be distinguished 

 from the iatettinal canal, and the air bag is uncommon- 

 ly large. According to the observations of Plumier, as 

 quoted by Bloch, the spawn of this species (found near 

 the Antilles) corrodes the skin of the palate or tongue. 

 rhe tecond specie*, K. tnrtogatier, has twelve rays on 

 the dorsal and anal fins ; thirteen in the pectoral fins ; 

 ventral fins placed near the middle of the animal. This 

 pecies was observed by Flumier in the sea near the 

 \ntillfs. The E. c\ :.o dorsal fin has eleven or 



twelve rays; the anal fins twelve ; eighteen in each of 

 the pectoral fins ; the ventral fins long, reaching to the 

 extremity of the dorsal fin, and situated a little beyond 

 (he middle of the body towards the tail This species 



frequents the same seas as the E. volitans. It is like- 

 wise found in the Mediterranean, sometimes single, 

 sometimes in small shoals. In shape it greatly resem- 

 bles a herring ; its flesh is fat and delicate. The last 

 species, E. comcrsonii, has twelve rays in the dorsal 

 fin, ten in the anal, and thirteen in each of the ventral 

 fins. These last are sufficiently long to reach to the 

 middle of the dorsal fin, and are situated beyond the 

 middle of the body towards the anal fin. The dorsal 

 fin is marked on the part nearest the tail with a large 

 blue spot. It is a native of the Indian seas, where it 

 was first found by Commerson. 



GENUS CCVII. POLYNEMUS. 



Free rays near each ventral fin ; head covered with 

 small scales ; two dorsal fins. 



La Cepede describes six species, all of which were 

 known to former naturalists. He divides them into 

 sections, from the form of the tail. They are chiefly 

 the inhabitants of warmer countries. The P. plebeitts 

 of Broussonet is termed P. emoi by La Cepede ; the 

 trivial name here adopted being the appellation by 

 which this fish is known to the natives of Otaheite. 

 It is a native of the American, Indian, and Southern 

 seas. The flesh is considered excellent, and hence in 

 India this species is known by the name of royal Jish. 

 The inhabitants of the coast of Malabar prefer the head 

 of the fish as a .delicious morsel. In these countries it 

 is salted and dried. M. Gazola supposes that he has 

 found the remains of this fish in the strata of Mount 

 Bolca. The P. paradisus, or Mango fish, is reckoned 

 one of the best esculent fishes found at Calcutta. It is 

 known to the natives by the name of tupsee mutchcy. 

 It feeds on young fishes and the Crustacea. 



GENUS CCVIII. POLYDACTYLCS. 



Free rays near each pectoral fin ; head without scales ; 

 two dorsal fins. 



The P. plumierii is the only known species. It bears 

 a close resemblance to the species of the preceding ge- 

 nus. It is of a silvery colour ; the nose is protube- 

 rant and long ; the upper jaw longer than the under ; 

 the six free rays which are near the pectoral fins, re- 

 semble long threads ; the second dorsal fin and the anal 

 fin are of equal extent, placed opposite, and falcated. 



Gtxts CC1X. Brno. 



A double process between the ventral fins; one long 

 dorsal fin ; scales small and difficult to perceive ; five 

 rays in the gill flap. 



The B. brunneus is the only known species, and was 

 described by La Cepede from the MSS. of Commerson. 

 Over the surface, there are numerous scattered small 

 spots of a white colour ; the iris is golden and silvery ; 

 head small ; nose a little pointed ; upper jaw moveable, 

 anil, together with the lower jaw, furnished with one 

 row of small pointed teeth ; the back and belly are ca- 

 rinated, and the body and tail are compressed. 



GENUS CCX. CLUPEA. Herring. 



Jaws furnished with teeth ; more than three rays in Herring. 

 the gill flap ; one dorsal fin; belly carinated, and notch- 

 ed or very sharp. 



La Cepede describes seventeen species of herrings, 

 which he distributes into two sections from the shape 

 of the taiL The most common species, C. harengus, 

 is one of the most important to the human race in 

 an economical and a commercial point of view. This 

 fish is an inhabitant of the northern seas. In Europe 

 it is seldom found farther south than the fiftieth de- 

 gree of latitude, nor farther north than the sixtieth. 

 On the coasts of America, however, it reaches farther 



