624 BIOLOGY. 



v 



Fam. 5. Snail-Fishes, Haddocks. 



Jugulares without distinct scales and spines on the 

 branchial operculum, and hard fin-rays. 



These Fishes are allied to the Eels by the aborted 

 ventral fins, the tolerably cylindrical, naked, or small- 

 scaled body and soft dorsal fins. The viviparous Blen- 

 nius bears with us its name of Aalmutter not in vain, for 

 it resembles a shortened, slimy Eel. The Gadidae are 

 indeed less slimy and have in part scales, but, by reason 

 of their lengthened form and their fins, cannot be 

 removed far from the Eels ; the same holds good of the 

 Plaice. 



Fam. 6. KracJcen-Fishes, Grundeln. 



Asymmetrical Jugulares and Thoracici, with naked and 

 mailed body, in addition to hard fin-rays. 



Here belong the Gobiidse and Triglidse, the first 

 whereof are usually naked, the second mailed, with rough- 

 nesses upon the head and spines on the opercula ; in all 

 the eyes placed high up. 



B. REGULAR FISHES. 



3538. Body elliptical, mostly covered with scales, Tho- 

 racici and Abdominales ; eyes placed sideways. 



Order 3. Pulmonary, Ancyliozooid Fishes. 



3539. Regular Thoracici. " 



The position of the abdominal fins immediately behind 

 the thoracic is obviously a step further in the perfection 

 of structure, and these Fishes must be therefore placed 

 above the preceding kinds, in whom, apart from the 

 asymmetrical form of body, the position of the fins is 

 mostly upon the neck or advanced very close to it. The 

 anus is still situated far forwards, and the tail is there- 

 fore mostly larger than the trunk. The dorsal fins are 

 still very predominant. Among them we still meet with 

 naked or microlepidal species, which in their abnormal 

 form also remind us of the irregular Fishes, as the Tun- 

 nies and Haberdines or Stock-fish. They are therefore to 

 be regarded as the lowest. 



As is the case here in Fishes, so also in the Ancyliozoa 



