58 CLASSIFICATIOX OF FISHES. 



Analogies of tJie Triglid^ and the ScoRP^xiDiE. 



TaiGLtD-E. Analogical Characters. ScoRF^xiDiE. 



rVeiitral fins generally placed T 

 Trigla. J under the pectoral: detached ?-Scor/)<eMa. 



t processes. j 



rVentral fins behind the pecto-T 

 Bactylophorus. < ral : pectoral fins very large, Y SynancMa. 



t without detached processes. J 



GplicM^us. {^^JSS-^I^S '■ ''']riafl^ce.,alus 



T^r,^h;^hf,,^ s> CBodv mailed with plates or tu- 7 ■ 9 



Iracfiichtys.? .| i3ercles. ^Agriopus. f 



Rhyncthitys. Dorsal fin very long. Blepsias. 



It is impossible to doubt that the three first groups in 

 each family are mutual representations ; but_, as there is 

 only one species of the last^ that is^ of Rhyncthitys and 

 Blepsias, so their analogy^ from being obscure^ can only 

 be rendered equally strong -with the others by being 

 traced through the medium of other groups. Blepsias, 

 in fact^ by its imperfect ventrals^ is a Cottus among 

 the ScorpcBnidcE, and leads immediately to that family ; 

 while Rhyncthitys as perfectly represents the Lepidole- 

 pridcE. If the student^ then^ wishes to work out these 

 two analogies^ he has only to compare the circles of the 

 Triglid<s and Scorpcenidce with that of the whole tribe^ 

 and he will find the same results from our arrangement 

 of their respective affinities. 



(^^9»^ There is_, neyerthelesSj so much of deep 

 scientific interest attached to this group^ in reference to 

 the station we have assigned to the Syngnathidce, that 

 limited as is our remaining space^ we cannot omit the 

 results of our analysis of the Scorpcenid(E, particularly 

 as they will be found to strengthen^ in a remarkable 

 manner_, all that has been advanced regarding the Tri- 

 glid<B, or gurnards. The genera_, indeed^ which we now 

 arrange under the general family namie of ScorpcBn'^dcB, 

 are^ in truth^ the most typical of the whole tribe_, just 

 as the Chironectidce are of the order Plectognathes. To 

 dilate upon the extraordinary resemblance in their ge- 

 neral external appearance and anatomy, which these two 

 groups possess_, would be quite superfluous ; for, were 

 their skeleton and branchial apertures the same, they 

 would then be placed close to each other. The Ti'iglidcSj 



