21 



CLASSIFICATION OF FISHES. 



laginous structure of Lophius, to the bony skeleton of 

 most of the eels : and. at the same time, a falling off 

 to the faintest indication of the vertebral column, as in 

 Myxene glutinosa (Jig. 3Q.) : which all authors agree in 



placing near to the worms. The order, however, stands 

 in no need of any additional characters than those we have 

 pointed out. The common eel may be cited as the most 

 perfectly typical of the whole ; while the eel-shaped 

 lampreys, as all writers agree, indicate the manner in 

 which the class of fishes blends into that of the annulose 

 animals, or insects. It may further be remarked that 

 this, no less than the other two aberrant orders of fishes, 

 affords us no example of true deciduous scales. Never- 

 theless, as the Apodes blend into an order where this 

 sort of covering is almost universal, we now begin to 

 see their incipient commencement. Many of the eels, 

 for instance, have very small scales, but so covered over 

 by their thick and fat skin, that they are scarcely visible 

 when the animal is alive. True scales, on the contrary, 

 are always placed upon the surface of the skin, and, as 

 every one knows, may be easily detached, or even rubbed 

 off. Linnaeus, indeed, placed all fishes not having 

 ventral fins within the limits of this order, and hence 

 rendered it a most artificial assemblage. M. Cuvier, 

 who still preserves the major part as a distinct and 

 " natural family," has much improved on this arrange- 

 ment ; although he has still left in the group several 

 genera, which, to our views, are evidently separated from 

 their true congeners. Ophidium and Fierasfer, from 

 having unattached opercula, and wide branchial aper- 

 tures, we arrange with the Gadidcs : Ammodytes, in like 

 manner we refer to the Gymetres, or riband-fish, with 



