SALMONIDiE^ OR SALMONS. 229 



dorsals and pectorals are not only spines, but become 

 bony^ lance-headed plates; and the other rays are gene- 

 rally so thick and strong as to possess little flexibility. 

 From these the passage to the loaches is remarkably 

 gradual ; and as we now arrive at that part of the circle 

 which touches the cartilaginous order, we accordingly 

 find that these fishes show a decided relation to that 

 group by their viviparous nature. All writers place the 

 loaches in immediate conjunction with the Cyprince, or 

 carps, which belong to the SalmonidcB : and as these 

 latter form a circular group of themselves, we return 

 from whence we began; and thus we find all the divi- 

 sions, on one side of the PleuronectidcB, sufficiently well 

 united, although capable of containing other and more 

 intimate links of connection. Before proceeding further, 

 we shall briefly notice the distinguishing characters of 

 the families whose affinities we have just endeavoured to 

 trace, and then see how far their analogies are con- 

 formable to the theory of representation. 



(204.) The Salmonidce not only include the salmons, 

 but nearly all the freshwater fish of Europe, and a 

 great proportion of those peculiar to the lakes and 

 rivers of other countries. They are distinguished, as a 

 whole, by having all the rays of their fins soft ; 

 or, if any exceptions exist to this character, it is 

 merely found in some of the perches, where the first 

 and- second dorsal ray is simple and rigid. They have 

 the body protected by large and well-formed scales, by 

 which they are distinguished from the cat-fish {Silu- 

 ridce), and have not that fleshy covering to the fins so 

 general among the Gadidce : they differ from the 

 loaches in their being oviparous, and in certain other 

 anatomical characters hereafter to be noticed. This 

 we look upon as the most typical division of the whole 

 order; and it preserves this character in being most 

 numerous in species, and most diversified in its forms. 

 It contains the different groups known under the fami- 

 liar names of earps, trouts, salmons, pikes, and her- 

 rings. 



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