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PISCES. 



Subgenus VIT. Pœcilja, Schn. 



Have the jaws horizontally flattened, protractile, slightly 

 cleft, armed with a row of very small teeth ; operculum 

 large ; five rays to the branchiae ; ventral but little way back ; 

 the dorsal above the anal ; small fish of the fresh waters of 

 America. 



FAMILY II. ESOCES. 



No adipose fin ; the edge of the upper jaw formed by the 

 intermaxillary, or when not so formed the maxillary is with- 

 out teeth and hidden by the lips ; instinct voracious ; many 

 of them ascend rivers. 



Genus I. Esox, Cuv. Pike. 



Muzzle oblong, obtuse, wide and depressed ; one dorsal 

 opposite the anal ; nearly all the mouth, besides the jaws, 

 bristled with teeth. 



Genus II. Exocetus, Lin. Flying-Fish. 



Excessive length of the pectoral fins, which are sufficiently 

 extended to support them some time in the air. Their flight 

 is never very long ; they rise to avoid voracious Fishes, but 

 soon fall, as their wings merely serve as parachutes. Dorsal 

 placed above the anal ; branchial rays ten. 



FAMILY III. SILÛRIDiË. 



No true scales ; a naked skin or large osseous plates ; al- 

 most always the dorsal and pectoral have a strong articulated 

 spine instead of the first ray ; frequently an adipose one be- 

 hind. Those of the genus Silurus are commonly called Cat- 

 Fish. 



FAMILY IV. SALMONIDES. 



Body scaly ; the first dorsal with soft rays, followed by a 

 small adipose one, that is to say one formed simply of a fold 

 of the skin filled with fat and unsupported by rays. 



Genus I. Salmo, Cuv. Salmon proper, 



Or Trout, have interior of the mouth more completely armed 

 than in any other Fish ; their natatory bladder extends from 

 one end of the abdomen to the other. Body almost always 



