104? CLASSIFICATION OF FISHES. 



from all the others. We can therefore have no he- 

 sitation in admitting the conclusion which Cuvier ar- 

 rived at by analysis, — that this immense group contains 

 the most perfect fishes in existence. 



(93.) " Sub-typical groups, as the name implies, are 

 a degree lower in organisation than the last, and thus 

 exhibit an intermediate character between typical and 

 aberrant divisions." This, also, is precisely the nature 

 of the 3£alacopteryge$> or soft-rayed fishes : they only 

 yield to the last in the perfection of their structure. 

 cc The numerical contents of sub- typical groups are 

 almost universally less than in those which are typical." 

 The truth of this remark is exemplified in the present 

 instance : the number of the soft-finned osseous fishes 

 is probably more than two thirds less than that of the 

 typical group, to which they are evidently inferior in 

 their general structure and in their power of swimming. 



(94.) ec The Natatorial or Aquatic type of nature, 

 as seen in quadrupeds, birds, and reptiles, are more espe- 

 cially inhabitants of the waters. They possess many and 

 striking peculiarities, modified, indeed, in the most asto- 

 nishing manner, but more conspicuous, perhaps, through- 

 out all natural groups, than any of those belonging to 

 other types." They are chiefly remarkable for their enor- 

 mous bulk, the disproportionate size of their head, and 

 the absence or very slight development of their feet. 

 These aquatic characters are exemplified in the Radiata 

 in the animal circle ; in the class of fishes among Ver- 

 tebrata ; in the Cettz, or whales, among the Mammalia j 

 and in the Xatatores among birds. ec As we approach 

 the more perfectly organised animals, we see the deve- 

 lopment of another singular feature — namely, a very 

 large, thick, and obtuse head, furnished with jaws ge- 

 nerally capable of great expansion, and terminated by 

 a blunt or truncated muzzle. As fishes constitute the 

 pre-eminent natatorial type of vertebrated animals, so we 

 find that such groups as represent them in other circles 

 of the Vertebrate have the feet transformed, as it were, 

 into fins. How beautifully is this exemplified in 



