An acanthin i

Order of Physoclist fishes, with soft fins; usually the pelvic fins are jugular. There are three sub-orders: Synentognathi, Hetero somata, and the Gadidæ. To the first belongs the family ( Scomberosocide ) of Gar-fishes and Flying fishes. The Gars ( Belone ) or Bill-fish are remarkably slender and have the toothed jaws produced into a long slender snout. The Flying-fish belong to the genus Exocœtus . These leap from the water by a smart stroke of the tail and, spreading their long pectoral fins, are able to sustain and prolong the leap for a minute or longer. To the second group belong the Flat-fishes ( Pluronectide ), as the Plaice, Sole, Flounder, Halibut. They swim near the bottom on one side, and this has caused the lower eye to twist around to the upper side, the proce taking place gradually in the young. To the last group belong the Cod-fishes, by some authors placed with the Acanth opter i . An a card i aceæ. Natural family of flowering plants of the cla Angiospermæ and sub-cla Dicotyledones , comprising 56 genera and about 430 species, scattered through the tropics and the regions just beyond, both n. and s.; Sumach Family.