21 
a modified form to recent fishes, to fulfil the necessary conditions of naturalness 
and convenience. In this system the osseous fishes are divided into two great 
sections, dependent on the form of the scale ; the second of these being again 
sub-divided into the Cuvierian divisions of Acanthopteryyii and Malacopterygii. 
This system is, as before said, found when applied to recent fishes, to be artificial j 
for example, the Pleuronectidce are, on account of the form of the scale, separated 
from all the other Malacopterygii, and placed in the Ctenoid division, which is 
otherwise wholly composed of acanthopterygious fishes ; with which, both from 
the nature of their fins and other anatomical differences, they have no natural 
affinity. In the Pleuronectidse also genera occur in which the scale is ganoid, 
(Turbot) and also others in which it is cycloid (Brill). This would also prove a 
strong objection to their being placed as a family in the Ctenoid division. 
Although these systems were good as far as they went, the rapid increase of lato 
in the number of new genera and species, the recent revision of the older ones, 
and late anatomical investigations made by Dr. Giinther, Professor Kner, and 
others, had rendered them in a great measure useless, and it therefore became 
necessary that another system should be devised. This task Dr. Giinther under- 
took, and is considered, I believe, to have performed it most ably. He divides the 
osseous fishes into six orders, and it will be at once perceived that the number of 
families has been greatly increased. 
Some years ago Professor Owen proposed a plan of classification for the fishes, 
with especial reference to fossil species. This system does not meet modern re- 
quirements ; he has, however, proposed another in his recent work on the ana- 
tomy and physiology of the Vertebrata, which must be considered, I suppose, aa 
superseding his former one. It is in some respects like that of Dr. Giinther, but 
revives the old Cuvierian divisions of the Malacopterygii, which Professor Owen, 
in his former system, rejected as being artificial. 
"While upon the subject of Fish Classification, I wish to refer, shortly, to some 
investigations recently made by me on the form of the scale, as a means of dis- 
tinguishing genera. It struck me that although it was not advisable to form 
orders simply dependent on the form of the scale, still perhaps genera might be 
determined by that means. With this view I examined some different scales, and 
found that in each genus the scale had a peculiar form, distinguishing it from the 
others, and that thus there was a ready means afforded for their discrimination. 
Unfortunately I have not been able to examine a sufficient number of scales to 
be able to lay it down as a constant rule that these differences exist. The form of 
the scale cannot be applied to the discrimination of species, for although certain 
differences of size generally exist, these are not sufficiently marked to be of service. 
The drawings on the table will illustrate the subject so far as I have gone." 
This paper was illustrated with copies of the tables of classifications re- 
ferred to, and with several microscopic preparations, drawings, &c. 
BOTANICAL SECTION. 
Thursday, February 21st, 1867. — The members of this section 
assembled at the residence of their President, Mr. Lbipner, by whom they 
were hospitably entertained with tea. 
