ANALOGIES OF THE MICROLEPTES. 51 



Analogies of the Microleptes and the Orders. 



-, Tnbe Analogical Characters. Orders of Fish 



MiCROLEPTEa. ^ 



ScoMBERiD^ [ TypicaU the dorsal spines very j a.^^^hoptekyges. 



r Sub-typical; dorsal spines slight- ^ 



Zejd£. ■? ly developed in one, and ob- > Malacopteryges. 



C solele in the other, j 



„ ^ ("Bodv lengthened, sub-anguilli- 7 4 „,^„„^ 



EcHEXEiD^. J form: adhere to other bodies. j^^°"^^- 



CE-VTRisciDi:. Body mailed ; mouth very small. Plectognathes. 



COEYPHEXIDS. 



C Snout verv obtuse, projecting 7 „ 



I beyond the mouth. j <-artilagiives. 



The two first represent each other by each holding 

 the same rank in their respective circles ; and it will 

 be observed that the spiny rays of the Scomberidce are 

 much stronger than those of the typical ZeidcB. The 

 dorsal spineSj indeed, of the latter are generally incipient, 

 assuming the form of prickles, unconnected with a mem- 

 brane ; whereas, in the whole of the typical Scomberidcr, 

 the dorsal spines form as perfect an anterior fin as in 

 any of the whole class. The well-known power of 

 the reraora to adhere to ships and moving objects, as the 

 lampreys and suckers (Cyclopteridce) do to stones, &c., 

 is one of those beautiful analogies which result from a 

 natural arrangement. No ichthyologist, indeed, would 

 ever think of there being any affinity, or, in other words, 

 any similarity of organic structure betv/een the remora 

 and the lampreys. M. Cuvier seems quite aware of 

 this, and he merely places the genus Echeneis at the 

 end of the Cyclopteridce, to indicate its holding some 

 sort of relation to those fish. It may at first excite 

 surprise why the order of Apodes should only be repre- 

 sented in this extensive group by a single genus ; but 

 this ceases on looking to the cartilaginous fishes, where 

 we have inequalities equally great in this and in all 

 other arrangements of that order. Besides, it should 

 be remembered that v/e are now in one of the most 

 typical divisions of the class, the very nature of which 



