114 VERTEBRATES: FISHES. 



gerous weapon, with which it attacks Whales and other 

 large animals of the sea. The Blue Fish is found in 

 nearly all seas, and makes excellent food. The Dolphin 

 lives in the Mediterranean, and in the Atlantic, and is 

 celebrated for its beautiful colors, and for the brilliant 

 tints which it Has when dying. The Surgeon has a 

 sharp spine or lancet on the side of its tail ; it lives in 

 the sea. Mullets are small fishes which live in the sea, 

 and in fresh waters. Eel-Pouts are long, somewhat eel- 

 shaped fishes, which the fishermen catch when fishing 

 for cod. The Goose Fish, of the Atlantic, is large, some- 

 times weighing seventy pounds, and with such a big 

 mouth that it swallows fishes almost as large as itself. 

 Gulls and other sea-birds are often found whole in its 

 stomach! The Toad Fish, of the Atlantic, is about a 



Fig. 204. Toad Fish. Fig. 205. Conner. 



foot long, and seems to care for its young. The Conner 

 is very abundant on the coast of New England, and is 

 caught in great numbers both with the hook and net. 



&OFT-FINNED FISHES. 



These Fishes have no spines in their fins. They are 

 the Carp, Dace, Shiners, Suckers, Pike, and Pickerel, 

 Gar-Fishes of the Sea, Flying-Fishes, Salmon, Herring, 

 Cod, Eels, &c. 



The Common Shiner, found in most ponds, lakes, and 

 rivers, is from three to six inches long, and of a golden 

 color. The Pickerel, so well known in the fresh waters, 



