ABDOMINAL MALACOPTERYGIANS. Ifi9 



But a single species is known; from the Indian Ocean*. 



Centriscusj, Lin., 



Vulgarly called the Becasses de Mer, or Sea-Snipes, have, in addition to 

 the tubular snout of this family, an oval or oblong, but unelongated body, 

 compressed on the side, and trenchant beneath; branchiae composed of 

 but two or three slender rays; a first spinal dorsal and small ventrals be- 

 hind the pectorals. The mouth is very small, and cleft obliquely ; the 

 intestine is without caeca, and is doubled three or four times, and the nata- 

 tory bladder is considerable. In 



Centriscus, properly so called, 



The first spine of the anterior dorsal, which is placed very far back, is 

 long and stout, and supported by an apparatus connected with the head 

 and shoulder. They are covered with small scales, and have, besides, 

 some broad and dentated plates on the apparatus just mentioned. 



C. scolopax,~L., Bl. 123 J. (The Sea-Snipe). Avery common 

 species in the Mediterranean, but a few inches long, and of a silvery 

 colour. In the 



Amphisile, Klein., 



The Amphisiles, the back is mailed with broad scaly pieces, of which the 

 anterior spine of the first dorsal seems to be a continuation. 



Some of them even have other scaly pieces on the flanks, and the spine 

 in question placed so far behind that it thrusts the second dorsal and anal 

 towards the lower part of the tail. Such is the Centriscus scutatus, L., 

 Bl. 123, 2, The Shielded Sea-Snipe. 



Others are intermediate between this disposition and that of a common 

 Centriscus. Their cuirass covers but the half of the back, — Centriscus 

 velitaris, Pall., Spic. VIII, iv, 8. Both these species are from the In- 

 dian Ocean. 



The second division of ordinary Fishes, or that of the Malacopterygians, 

 contains three orders, characterized by the position of the ventrals, or by 

 their absence. The second order of Fishes is that of 



ORDER II, 



ABDOMINAL MALACOPTERYGIANS, 



That is to say, Fishes in which the ventrals are suspended to the under 

 part of the abdomen and behind the pectorals, without being attached to 

 the bones of the shoulder. It is the most numerous of the three, and 

 comprehends most of the fresh-water fishes. We subdivide it into five 

 families. 



* Fistuluria ckinensis, Bl. 388. 



f Centriscus, from the Greek kentao, to sting. 



X It is also the Silurus curtmtus, Forsk., the Macioramphose, Lac. 



