208 FISHES. 



very large, the intestines thin, straight, and furnished with a spiral valve 

 and a single caecum ; the double natatory bladder has large lobes, that on 

 the left is particularly so, and communicates with the oesophagus by a 

 wide hole. 



There is one species with sixteen dorsals, discovered in the Nile 

 by M. Geoffroy, Polypterus bichir, Geoff., Ann. Mus. I, v; and an- 

 other from the Senegal which has but twelve, the P. senegalus, Cuv. 

 Their flesh is excellent. 



ORDER III. 



SUBBRACHIAN («) MALACOPTERYGIANS. 



This order is characterized by ventrals inserted under the pectorals; the 

 pelvis is also directly suspended to the bones of the shoulder. It contains 

 almost as many families as it does genera. 



FAMILY I. 



GADITES. 



This family is almost wholly composed of the great genus 



Gadus*, Lin., 



The Cod-fish, recognized by the ventrals, which are pointed and attached 

 to the throat. The body is moderately elongated, slightly compressed, 

 and covered with soft and very numerous scales; the head is well propor- 

 tioned, but without scales; all the fins are soft; the jaws and front of the 

 vomer armed with pointed, unequal, moderate, or small teeth, disposed in 

 several rows, and resembling a card or rasp; the branchia? are large and 

 have seven rays. Nearly the whole of the genus have two or three fins 

 on the back, one or two behind the anus, and a distinct caudal. The 



* Gadus is in Athens the Greek name of a fish also called Unos Artedi applied 

 it to this genus in order to avoid those of Onos, Assellus, and Mus tela, employed by 

 the antients, and which were thought, by the first modern ichthyologists, though with- 

 out proof, to indicate some of our Gadi, but which, being also names of quadrupeds, 

 ■would have occasioned ambiguity. 



gS^" (a) The word Subbracldan, which means under the arm, is used in reference 

 to the peculiar arrangement of the ventral fins under the pectorals. The latter fins 

 are considered by Cuvier as analogous to the arms of man, and hence he uses this 

 term. — Eng. Ed. 



