ON THE ORDER MALACOPTERYGES. 225 



blance to that of the generality of sharks, that the out- 

 line of the head of one would almost serve for that of 



the other. A new species from Sicily, — the specimen 

 of which, sent to the British Museum, but now lost, — 

 is here figured from our original drawing (fig. 45.). 



(199-) The union of the sucking fish with the eels, 

 as before observed, is effected by Cuvier's genus Alabis, 

 and Rafinesque's Piescephalus. This latter is placed by 

 Rafinesque with the eels, with the observation, that it 

 has several characters of conformation with Lepadogas- 

 ter; and there is good reason for the remark, for both 

 have the power of adhering, by means of concave disks 

 on the throat. Although we have never seen this ex- 

 traordinary fish, we feel perfectly sure that future inves- 

 tigations in the Mediterranean will bring it again to 

 light. But whether we take this for the connecting link, 

 or Cuvier's genus Alabis, we find the suckers brought 

 into immediate union with the eels, — thus uniting all 

 the apodal families into one complete circle ; and so 

 perfectly is this effected, that we may at once dismiss 

 the subject, and pass onward to the next order. 



CHAP. IX. 



GENERAL ACCOUNT OF THE MALACOPTERYGES, OR SOFT-FINNED 

 ORDER ; AND OF THE ANALOGIES OF THE FAMILIES. 



(200.) The great order of fishes characterised by 

 Artedi as the Malacopteryges, is composed, as already 

 observed, of those whose fins are supported by soft or 



VOL. I. Q 



