ZOOLOfiY. 



179 



upwards ; mouth rough within ; gill-memhrane eight 

 rayed ; belly sharp, and in most species serrated. 



The Herring tribe aiFord a very great quantity of food to 

 mankind, and is one of the most abundant and prolific genera ; 

 the Herring fishery employing a rery considerable portion of 

 the population of such districts as pursue this trade. 



20. Caprinus. Carp. Mouth small ; teeth situated in th@ 

 throat I gill-membrane three rayed ; one dorsal Jin. 



21. Mormyurus, Snout protruded; teeth several, emargi- 

 nated; aperture to the gills without a cover; gill^ 

 membrane one rayed ; body scaly. 



Division 11.~~CARTILAG1N0US FISHES. 



ORDER i. 



BRANCHIOSTEGO US. 



GILLS WITHOUT BONY RAYS. 



In this extensive order but few of the kinds are useable a« 

 food, most of them are exceedingly voracious, devouring 

 every animal they can master; they vary greatly in form, 

 and equally so in habits and propensities ; the larger part 

 feed on fish, and dead carcasses, others on moluscae, and 

 sea weed ; there are eighteen genera in the order. 



N 2 



