ZOOLOGY. 175 



ORDER IV, 



Abdominales. — ABDOMINAL. 



GILLS BONY; THE VENTRAL FINS SITUATED BEHIND 

 THE PECTORAL. 



Most of the Fishes in this Order are Marine, some are 

 found in rivers and lakes, and a few species in ponds ; of 

 some of the genera, all the species are applicable to the pur- 

 poses of food, but of others, many are rejected; we much 

 doubt if any species of fish is of itself poisonous, but may 

 have that effect from feeding on certain kinds of moluscae, 

 that are deleterious ; the roes of several species, in this order 

 particularly that of the Barbel, are apt to disagree with 

 many persons, on which account they are mostly accounted 

 poisonous. There are Twenty-one genera in the order. 



1. Cobitis. LocHE. Ej/es situated on the upper part of the 



head; bodj of almost an equal thickness throughout; 

 from the extremity of the upper jaw, protrude several 

 beard-like appendages ; gill-membrane four or six 

 rayed, the covers of one piece, closing beneath ; one 

 dorsal fm, 



2. Anablebs. Head sub-compressed ; mouth terminal ; 



teeth small, situated in the jaws ; eyes projecting with 

 double pupils ; gill-membrane six rayed. 



This is an anomaly among Fishes, as it virtually possesses 



