AN INTRODUCTION
TO THE
STUDY OF FISHES
BY
ALBERT C. L. G. GÜNTHER
M.A. M.D. Ph.D. F.R.S.
KEEPER OF THE ZOOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM
Carpit aquas pinnis.
EDINBURGH
ADAM AND CHARLES BLACK
1880
[All rights reserved.]
Printed by R. & R. Clark, Edinburgh.
PREFACE.
The scope of the present work is to give in a concise form an account of the principal facts relating to the structure, classification, and life-history of Fishes. It is intended to meet the requirements of those who are desirous of studying the elements of Ichthyology; to serve as a book of reference to zoologists generally; and, finally, to supply those who, like travellers, have frequent opportunities of observing fishes, with a ready means of obtaining information. The article on "Ichthyology," prepared by the late Sir J. Richardson for the eighth edition of the "Encyclopædia Britannica," is the only publication which has hitherto partly satisfied such requirements; and when I undertook, some years ago, to revise, or rather rewrite that article for the new edition of that work, it occurred to me that I might at the same time prepare a Handbook of Ichthyology, whilst reserving for the article an abstract so condensed as to be adapted for the wants of the general reader.
From the general plan of the work I have only departed in those chapters which deal with the Geographical Distribution of Fishes. This is a subject which has never before been treated in a general and comprehensive manner, and seemed to demand particular attention. I have, therefore, thought it right to give nominal lists of the Faunæ, and the other details of fact on which I have based my conclusions, although all the necessary materials may be found in my "Catalogue of Fishes."
A few references only to the numerous sources which were consulted on the subjects of Chapters 1-12, are inserted in the text; more not required by the beginner; he is introduced to a merely elementary knowledge of facts well known to the advanced student.
With regard to the illustrations, about twenty have been prepared after originals published by Cuvier, J. Müller, Owen, Traquair, Duméril, Cunningham, Hasse, Poey, Siebold, and Gegenbaur. A similar number, representing extinct fishes, have been taken, with the kind permission of the author, from Owen's "Palæontology". My best thanks are due also to the Committee of Publications of the Zoological Society, and to the Editors of the "Annals and Magazine of Natural History," and of the "Journal des Museum Godeffroy," for the loan of woodcuts illustrating some of my papers on South American fishes and on larval forms. The remainder of the illustrations (about three-fourths) are either original figures, or formed part of the article on 'Ichthyology' in the former edition of the "Encyclopædia Britannica."
- London, 3d October 1880.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
Fish defined—Ichthyology defined |
1 |
History and Literature |
2 |
Topographical description of the External Parts of Fishes |
35 |
Terminology and Topography of the Skeleton |
51 |
Modifications of the Skeleton |
63 |
Myology |
93 |
Neurology |
96 |
The Organs of Sense |
109 |
The Organs of Nutrition and Digestion |
121 |
Organs of Respiration |
135 |
Organs of Circulation |
150 |
Urinary Organs |
155 |
Organs of Reproduction |
157 |
Growth and Variation of Fishes |
170 |
PAGE
Domesticated and Acclimatised Fishes, etc. |
185 |
Distribution of Fishes in time |
193 |
The Distribution of existing Fishes over the Earth's Surface,—General Remarks |
202 |
The Distribution of Freshwater Fishes |
208 |
The Fishes of the Brackish Water |
251 |
The Distribution of Marine Fishes |
255 |
Distribution of Pelagic Fishes |
292 |
The Fishes of the Deep Sea |
296 |
SYSTEMATIC AND DESCRIPTIVE PART.
First Sub-class—Palæichthyes.
PAGE
First Order—Chondropterygii |
313 |
I. | Plagiostomata |
313 |
A. | Selachoidei—Sharks |
314 |
B. | Batoidei—Rays |
335 |
II. | Holocephala |
348 |
Second Order—Ganoidei |
350 |
I. | Placodermi |
351 |
II. | Acanthodini |
355 |
III. | Dipnoi |
355 |
IV. | Chondrostei |
360 |
V. | Polypteroidei |
363 |
VI. | Pycnodontoidei |
366 |
VII. | Lepidosteoidei |
367 |
VIII. | Amioidei |
370 |
Second Sub-class—Teleostei.
First Order—Acanthopterygii |
374 |
I. | A. perciformes |
374 |
II. | A. beryciformes |
419 |
II. | A. kurtiformes |
424 |
IV. | A. polynemiformes |
425 |
V. | A. sciæniformes |
426 |
VI. | A. xiphiiformes |
431 |
VII. | A. trichiuriformes |
433 |
VIII. | A. cotto-scombriformes |
438 |
IX. | A. gobiiformes |
483 |
X. | A. blenniiformes |
490 |
XI. | A. mugiliformes |
499 |
XII. | A. gastrosteiformes |
504 |
XIII. | A. centrisciformes |
508 |
XIV. | A. gobiesociformes |
510 |
XV. | A. channiformes |
513 |
XVI. | A. labyrinthibranchii |
514 |
XVII. | A. lophotiformes |
519 |
XVIII. | A. tæniiformes |
520 |
XIX. | A. notacanthiformes |
523 |
Second Order—Acanthopterygii Pharyngognathi |
523 |
Third Order—Anacanthini |
537 |
I. | A. gadoidei |
537 |
II. | A. pleuronectoidei |
553 |
Fourth Order—Physostomi |
559 |
Fifth Order—Lophobranchii |
678 |
Sixth Order—Plectognathi |
683 |
Third Sub-class—Cyclostomata.
Fourth Sub-class—Leptocardii.
APPENDIX.
697 |
707 |
This work was published before January 1, 1927, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.