SOFT-FINNED FISHES. 
201 
fection. The great majority of fresh- water fishes 
are found here, though associated with many that 
are exclusively marine. A considerable propor- 
tion of the species are ground-feeders ; fishes 
which have the powers of swimming feebly deve- 
I loped, and are compelled to grovel on the mud at 
; the bottom, and lie in wait for passing prey. An 
’ example of this kind we saw in the Frog-fishes, 
among the Spinous-finned Order, but this is an 
exception to the general habits of that energetic 
; group, and indeed is by some zoologists excluded 
' from its pale. 
The Order before us is surpassed by the pre- 
ceding in elegance of form and brilliancy of colouh 
: Not that it is absolutely deficient of either ; the 
I Herrings afibrd examples of the former, and not 
j a few of the great Salmon Family exhibit both 
; qualities in high perfection ; but, generally speak- 
i ing, they are not prevalent in the Order. In a 
; property, however, of much greater importance, 
i their utility in contributing to the sustenance of 
I man, the Soft-finned tribes vastly surpass all the 
other Orders of Fishes put together. Among the 
marine species, the various kinds of Herring, 
Pilchard, Sprat, and Shad; the Cod, Whiting, 
Pollack, Hake, Ling, and Barbot ; the Plaice, 
Dab, Flounder, Halibut, Turbot, Brill and Sole; 
— among the freshwater species, the Carps, Bar- 
bel, Tench, Bream, Roach, Dace, and Chub ; the 
Pike ; the Eels ; the various kinds of Trout and 
Salmon, the Char, the Gwyniad, and the Pollan, 
including their varieties and kindred species, may 
be mentioned as being all of more or less value to 
man. Many of these, as is well known, are the 
subjects of important fisheries, the sources of 
