228 FISHES. 



A. iobianus, Bl. 75, 2; Ray. I; Synop. Ill, f. 12, (The Lan- 

 con), which has the lower jaw more pointed; the maxillaries longer; 

 pedicles of the intermaxillaries very short, and in which the dorsal 

 commences only opposite to the end of the pectorals ; and 



A. lancea, Cuv., Penn. Brit. Zool. pi. xxv, f. 66. (The Equille). 

 The maxillaries shorter; pedicles of the intermaxillaries longer; the 

 dorsal commencing opposite to the middle of the pectorals; the body 

 thicker in proportion. 



Both species are common along the whole coast of France; from 

 eight to ten inches long, and of a silver-grey colour. They are ex- 

 cellent food, and are employed on fish-hooks as baits. 



The whole of the fishes, of which we have heen hitherto speaking, are 

 furnished not only with a skeleton, which is either osseous or fibrous, 

 together with jaws which are perfect as well as free, but also with branchiae 

 invariably consisting of lamina' or combs. 



The Order of, 



ORDER V. 



lopiiobranchiate (a) fishes, 



Has also its jaws perfect and free, but it is eminently distinguished by the 

 gills, which, instead of resembling, as usual, the teeth of a comb, are di- 

 vided into small round tufts, arranged in pairs along the branchial arches, 

 a structure of which no other fishes present any example. They are en- 

 closed beneath a large operculum, tied down on all sides by a membrane 

 which leaves only a single small orifice for the exit of the water, and ex- 

 hibiting in its thickness only vestiges of rays. These fishes are also re- 

 cognised by the scutellated plates of mail which cover their body, and 

 almost always render ii angular. They are generally small, and nearly 

 without flesh. Their intestine is equal, and without caeca, and their nata- 

 tory bladder thin, but very large. 



SVNGNATHUS*, Lift. 



The Syngnathi constitute a numerous genus characterized by a tubular 

 snout, formed, like that of the Flute-mouths, by (be prolongation of the 

 ethmoid, vomer, tympanals, preopercula, subopercula, &c, and terminated 

 by an ordinary mouth, but one that is cleft almost vertically on its extre- 

 mity. The respiratory aperture is near the nape, and the ventrals are 



* From two Greek words, sun and gnathos, (united jaws), a name composed by 

 Artedi, who thought that the tube of the snout of these fishes was formed by the 

 union of their jaws. 



ggJT («) From the Greek, lophos, a tuft, and branchier, gills. — Eng. Ed. 



