306 CLASSIFICATION OF FISHES. 



ing the fresh waters of America * ; but as no figures of 

 them have been published, or no specimens have reached 

 England, we know, as yet, very Httle about them. 



(255.) The other genera or sub-genera placed by 

 authors in this family, will be noticed in the systematic 

 part ; and now, having selected what appear to be the 

 most prominent types of form, we will place these toge- 

 ther, and ascertain what analogous resemblances to them 

 can be found in other groups. In the first instance, we 

 shall compare the whole of the tribe or family of ;S'a/- 

 monidoe with the circle (subsequently to be made out) of 

 the Scomleridce, in order to show the relation of the pikes 

 to the sword-fish. 



Sub-families of the i„„i„„,- Types of the 



Salmonid^. Analogies. Scomberid^ 



SALMONIN£i 



Clupeix^. 



C Mouth large ; teeth strong ; belly f -rhumnus 

 I not compressed. ^inymnus. 



r Mouth and teeth small : belly f „ , 

 I compressed. ^ \^Scomber. 



rMouth large; jaws excessively 'J 

 E80CIN.E. s developed, one or both hQmg^Xiphias. 



C very long and pointed. J 



MoRMTRn.^. [ ^^^^^SX"^ ' ^^^^^ ^''''^' ] Fistularia. 



C'iTRiNS. ? Lepidosaurus (?). 



At present we must confine ourselves to one of these 

 analogies, or that between the pikes and the sword-fish, 

 than which nothing can be stronger. The analogy of 

 Mormyrus to Fistularia, both with their long snouts, 

 yet httle mouths, is also sufiiciently evident ; and there 

 is a remote resemblance between the two first groups : 

 the relation, however, to the two latter* we cannot make 

 out, but this point will be returned to hereafter. 



(256.) We shall next compare the foregoing divisions 

 of the EsocincB with the malacopterygious famihes ; 

 chiefly with a view of showing that Lepisosteus is the 

 representation of the SiluridcE in its own family. 



* Ichthyolosia Ohiensis, or Nat. Hist, of the Fishes inhabiting the River 

 Ohio and iis Tributary Streams. Lexington, 1820. 



