308 



CLASSIFICATION OF FISHES. 



in destroying the claim of Lepisosteus to be a tenuiros- 

 tral type, or that which, in ichthyology, is to represent 

 the primary order of Plectognathes ; for whether it be 

 placed with the gar-fish, or stand by itself, as we have 

 for the present arranged it, it becomes the most aberrant 

 in either group, and thus possesses all the analogies we 

 have more especially pointed out. There is a little fish, 

 indeed, published by Mr. Gray under the name of Diplo- 

 pterus pulcher [Jig. 68.), which, from the position of its 



dorsal and anal fins, seems to enter among the Esocince ; 

 but no description having been given of it, w r e are fearful 

 of hazarding any conjecture on its affinities, seeing that 

 the facts upon which that could be done are insufficient. 

 We deem it best, however, to mention it in this place, 

 in the hopes of directing the attention of ichthyologists 

 to the subject. 



(258.) On the last division of this extensive family, 

 which we have named the Mormyrince (Mor. elongatus 

 Jtiipp., Jig. GO.), we can say but little. The fishes we in- 



clude under this denomination form the Linnaean genus 

 Mormyrus, which has been also preserved entire by all 



