8 CLASSIFICATION" OF FISHES. 



marv series into which the whole class has been distri- 

 buted. 



(7.) That the tribes we have just enumerated show 

 a marked analogical resemblance to those which compose 

 the Malacopteryges, or soft-rayed order_, will be abun- 

 dantly evident when we come to place the two series in 

 juxtaposition^ as in the following table: — 



Analogies of the Acanthopterygious and the Mala- 

 coPTEBYGious Orders. 



Tribes of the ^ , ■^„t /yi. t^ . Tribes of the 



Acanthopteryges. Analogical Characters. Malacopteryges. 



r Body lengthened, ovate, cover- T 

 Macroleptes. X ed with distinct scales; dor- ?- Salmosid^. 



t sal fins two. 3 



Body short, compressed, broad ; 

 MiCROLEPTES. -J scales very small ; dorsal fins \ Pleueoxectid^. 



r Body short, compressed, broad ; ~^ 

 X scales very small ; dorsal fins V J 

 C one. J 



■ Body long ; scales minute, hid '\ 

 Gtmetres. "^ under the sk;n ; ventrals V GADiDiE. 



sometimes wanting. J 



rHead loricated, the hones high- -^ 

 Caxthileptes. X ly developed ; scales often ? Silueid^. 



C. spinous. 3 



Blexnides. pinaU^; dorsal rays soft; vivipa- j cobitid^. 



A detailed illustration of these comparisons^ which we 

 shall now enter upon, will be of much interest to the 

 experienced zoologist^ and will give the student a further 

 insight into the several pecuharities of the groups thus 

 brought together. M'e have sho\\Ti_, in a former volume, 

 that the salmon tribe are the most perfectly organised 

 of the soft-rayed division of osseous fishes ; and Cuvier's 

 opinion, that the PercidcB (the types of the Macroleptes) 

 should be placed at the head of the spine-rayed order_, is 

 confirmed in its correctness by the result of our researches. 

 In these two groups, typical of their respective orders, we 

 find those genera which are most distinguished for possess- 

 ing two dorsal fins — witness the whole of the SalmonidcBy 



