GENERAL CLASSIFICATION OF FISH. 37 



[The MALACOPTERYGII, or Soft-finned Fishes (from the 

 Greek malacos, soft, and pterygion, a iin), furnish three Orders, 

 founded upon the^osifo'ore of the ventral Jins : viz. — ] 



Order II. Malacopterygii Abdominales, or Abdominal 

 Soft-finned Fishes. (Prom Lat. abdomen, the belly.) 

 — So called from the ventral fins being attached 

 to the abdomen, behind the pectorals, without 

 being jointed on to the shoulder-bones. It includes 

 five Families, in which are the greater number of 

 our fresh-water fishes. 



Order III. Malacopterygii Sub-brachiati, or Soft-finned 

 Fishes with lower arms. (From Lat. sub, under, 

 and brachium, an arm.) — Named from their having 

 the ventral fins under the pectorals, thus giving 

 the idea of lower arms. In this Order, which 

 consists of three Families, the pelvis is suspended 

 to the shoulder-bones. 



Order IV. Malacopterygii Apodes, ox Soft-finned Fishes 

 vnthout feet. (From Gr. a. privative, and pons, a 

 foot.) — Have no ventral fins, which, being supposed 

 to represent feet, have thus by their absence given 

 the designation of "Footless." Has only a single 

 Family. 



Order V. Lophobranchii, Fishes with their gills in tufts. 

 (From Gr. lophos, a tuft, and branchia, gills.) — 



