552 
THE OCEAN WORLD. 
projects over the lower ; it is of a silvery white, sometimes relieved by 
an olive tint, which is contrasted upon the back by the blackish tint 
which distinguishes the pectoral and caudal fins, and by a black spot 
which some individuals have at the junction of the pectorals with the 
body. 
-Lhe whiting inhabits the seas which w'ash the whole European 
coast, often approaching the shore in shoals, which are taken annually 
in great numbers. 
3. ABDOMINALES. 
The fishes belonging to this order have the ventral fins under the 
abdomen placed behind, and not attached to the bones of the shoulder. 
It is much the most numerous and important of the great division of 
the Malacopterygeans. It includes most of our fresh-water fishes, a 
great number of marine species, and many like the salmon, which 
betake themselves to the rivers in the spawning season to deposit 
their ova. We shall limit our remarks to the species which are 
essentiahy marine, such as the Salmonidse, the Clupeadtv, and a few 
others. 
