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CLASS IV. PISCES. FISHES. 
Animals included in this clafs arc always inhabitants of the 
arc fwift in their motion and voracious in their appetites, 
^^teathc by means of gilh, W'hich ar-e generally united by a 
arch ; fwim by means of radiate fins, and arc moflly covered 
K j^ith cartilaginous ficalcs. 
^*'des the parts they have in common with other animals, they 
r^^miflicd with a niftitant membrane, and moft of them with an 
dtp Eder, by the contradtion or dilatation of which, they can raife 
'.•jK tlicmfelves in their element at pleafure. 
are delfitutc of eselids, external ears, necl, arms and legs, 
hear through the medium of water and not of air ; move 
'It (Elves by means of tlic fins, are propelled forwards by the caudal 
Ivj^'l'fin, diredled to either fide by the dorjal and anal fins, lifted up- 
'pT tiy the peSloral, and reft themfelves on the ventral fins. 
•jA^y are fom' timcs defended with /pines. 
^ fiood is mucus, infe'dls, W'orros, dead bodies, leffer fiih or 
generic charafter is taken from the (liape of thc^ body, co- 
^S> lirudlure, figure and parts of the head, but principally from 
'Pj^^nchioftegous membrane. 
Specific charafter is taken from the cirri, jaws, fins, fpines, 
•pf line, digitated appendages, tail and colour. 
'tf ® “ge: of fiflies is knovrn by numbering the concentric circles in 
'W r*'lverfp fe£tion of the back-bone, 6r the concentric circles on 
‘tales. 
are divided into 6 Orders, the 4 firft of which have bony 
^ the gills. 
jj’ ^PODAL. Ventral fins none. Fig. 3. 
' JPGULAR. Ventral fins before the pec- 
toral. Fig. r. 
"EHCyRACIC. Ventral fins under the pcc- 
1 \, toral. Fig. 4. 
■ •^BOOMINAL. Ventral fins behind the pec- 
toral. Fig. 5- 
V{' ^^^ANCHIOSTEGOUS. Gills deftitute of bony rays. 
■ ^HONDROPTERYGIOUS, Gills cartilaginous. 
EXPLA- 
‘ll. 
