4.4 



CLASSIFICATION OF FISHES. 



Analogies of the different Groups in the Tribe of 



MiCROLEPTES. 



Families of the 



MiCROLEPTES. 



Orders of Sub families 

 Fishes °^^^^ 



IrlSHES. SCOMBERIDi. 



Sub-families Sub-families 

 of the of ttie 

 Zeid£. Coryph*;nid« 



1. ScOMBERIDfi. 



Malacop. ScomherincB. 



Centronotince. CoryplicEnince 



2. ZEIDJi. 



ACANTHOP. ThymnincB. 



ZetTUB. StromatimB. 



J. ECHENEID^ 



Apodes. XiphiruB. 



NotocanthineB.AstrodBrnuna. 



4. CEXTRISCIDi;. 



Plectognathes. FistularincL. 



Gasterostince. AcanthurincB. 



.*?. CORYPH^ENID^ 



. Cartilagines. AlepisauriTue. 



Spkyranince. Trickiuritue. 





CHAP. IV 





ON THE GYMNETRES, OR HIBANP-FISH. 



(46.) The tribe of Gymnetres, or riband fish^ al- 

 though vastly inferior, in point of number, to either of 

 the more typical divisions, is yet one of the greatest 

 interest, since it contains the most singular and extra- 

 ordinary fishes in creation. In the genera of the 

 Coryph(Enid€e, from which they insensibly pass, we were 

 in a great measure prepared to see these singular cha- 

 racters in their full development before us. The form 

 of the body, when compared to fishes better known, is 

 more like that of the eel, the length being m the same 

 proportion to the breadth ; but then it is generally so 

 much compressed, that these creatures have acquired 

 the popular names of riband-fish, lath or deal fish, &c. 

 The body, indeed, is often not thicker, except in its 

 middle, than that of a sword ; and, being covered with 

 the richest silver, and of great length, the undulating 

 motion of these fishes in the sea must be resplendent 

 and beautiful beyond measure. But these and all the 

 wonders of the mighty deep, are almost hidden from 

 the eye of man. These meteoric fishes appear to live 



