30 
power which is so conducive to the full use of thiy 
organ.” (Dr. Bushman on the Locomotion of Fishes, 
Naturalists’ Lib. vol. i. Ichthyology.) Now these 
two bones, which are se important in their offices 
when they are found in any fish so constructed as to 
rotate freely, are firmly united together in most rep- 
tiles, in all birds, and in many quadrupeds: so that 
with the disadvantage of a less advanced develop- 
ment in the absence of the arm-bone, or in a should- 
er-joint, and elbow-joint, one and the same, here 
certain fishes have the advantage of many of the 
superior tribes of animals. 
To the ulna and radius when this adaptation exists 
in the way we have mentioned, are attached the 
several bones of the wrist, quite corresponding to those 
of the wrist of man. From these proceed the long 
radiating bones equally corresponding to those of the 
hand and fingers of man. These bones constituting 
the radial frame-work of the pectoral fin, are long 
and numerous. If increased dimensions, and addi- 
tional numbers to the phalanges over and above the 
five-fold systei of the human hand, give title to a 
higher organization—the fish among development- 
theorists would be a very exalted, as well as distine 
guished member of the vertebrata. 
In the preceding remarks, I have endeavoured to 
shew the subordination of the several appendages 
and limbs to the proportions of the vertebral column. 
The changes they suffer to obliteration, when they 
are unnecessary auxiliaries to the spinal frame, is 
inanifested in none cf the fishes with such marked 
speciality as in the syngnathians, the pipe fishes, and 
