38 AMERICAN FISHES. 



Two pectorals. 

 Two ventrals. 

 One anal. 

 One caudal 

 One dorsal. 



No fish has more than two pectorals, or two ventrals ; many nave 

 several anals, and several dorsals; none, unless deformed or monstrous, 

 has more than one caudal. 



The apodal Malacopterygii, of which I have spoken, lack the ven- 

 trals entirely; wherefore their name apodal, footless; the ventral 

 being assumed as performing the function of feet in the quadruped^ 

 although somewhat fancifully. 



Now, on the terture of these fins is founded the distinction between 

 the two first orders of fishes, as instituted by Baron Cuvier ; the first 

 rrder, Acanthopterygii, having the rays, by which the filamentous 

 part of the fins is supported and extended, in part hard, spinous, and 

 in some species, sharp and prickly ; whence the designation; " acan- 

 thos," signifying a thorn ; while the second order, Malacopterygii, have 

 these rays invariably soft and flexible, as the term, derived from 

 " malacos," soft, sufficiently indicates. 



This distinction is so easily drawn, that when once mentioned it 

 cannot be missed or overlooked by the most superficial observer ; and as 

 to one or other of these orders belongs every fish, without an excep- 

 tion, of which the sportsman takes cognizance — I do not of course 

 include shell-fish — its importance is self-evident. 



Of the spiny-finned fishes, though there are many families, and many 

 species of each family, there are no great subordinate divisions. 



Of the flexible-finned fishes, on the contrary, there are three 

 strongly-defined divisions, of which the largest is that containing 



The abdominal Malacopterygii ; in all of which the two ventral 

 fins, bb, are situate on the belly, attached to the walls of the stomach, 

 and deriving no support from the bones of the shoulder. To this divi- 

 sion belongs, among many others, the subject of the outline cut on 

 page 37, the European Lake Trout ; and, as a consequence, all the 

 family of the Salmonidm. The fishes of this division can be readily 

 distinguished, on a mere external examination, by the fact that the 



