ZOOLOGY. 625 



the truly regular or bilateral body originates in them for 

 the first time, or at least constitutes a persistent character. 



Fam. 1 . Worm-Fishes , Tunnies. 



Tolerably naked or microlepidal, cylindriform or very 

 much compressed, with small head and mouth ; the teeth 

 very feeble, only like a brush; the branchial opercula 

 without spines. Here belong the proper Tunnies and 

 Haberdines : all of them marine Fishes. 



Fam. 8. Crustacean Fishes, Brasse/t. 



Body perfectly regular, covered with great scales ; 

 mouth small with strong teeth ; branchial opercula un- 

 armed. Here belong the Labridae or Lipped Fishes, Sea- 

 bream and Osphromanus. 



Fam. 9. Ptilotoid Fishes, Perch. 



Body quite regular with large scales, mouth of mode- 

 rate size with scythe-shaped teeth, branchial opercula 

 armed. Here belong the Scianoidas and Percoidae. 

 Dwell in the sea and rivers. 



Order 4. Sarcose Fishes. 



3540. Abdominales, dorsal fins small, with soft rami- 

 fied rays, mostly placed far behind. Plainly regular 

 Fishes with large scales. The head is regular, with the 

 eyes upon its sides ; the set of teeth varied ; the trunk 

 large, tail small, as are also the dorsal fins, which proceed 

 more and more backwards to the sacrum or even the 

 tail, a fact indicating their gradual disappearance, and 

 therefore a sign also of greater perfection. Added to 

 this, they are generally distributed over the whole earth 

 in rivers and seas. Finally, it is they that yield the 

 most nutriment to Man, which is also a constant sign 

 of greater perfection ; as is evidenced in the vegetable 

 kingdom by the Fruit-trees or plants ; in the animal 

 kingdom by the Oysters, Snails, Sepiae, Holothuriae, 

 Geese, Fowls, Cattle, &c. 



Fam. 10. Typical Fishes, Carps. 



Body of the Carps covered with large scales, mostly 

 but one dorsal fin placed pretty far back, mouth nearly 

 edentate, supra-maxillary bones arrested, large teeth on 



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