CLASS DIPNOI. 



105 



PIG. 180. 



ORDER PEDICULATI (pe dik u la'tl). 



The Fishing-frog has the ventral fins forward of the 

 pectoral. Upon the head are three spines : the first with 

 a shiny membrane 

 at the tip, fastened 

 by a ring and staple 

 joint, and able to 

 move in every direc- 

 tion ; the other two 

 move onlv back- 



X 



ward and forward. 

 The sluggish creat- 

 ure, lying in the 

 mud at the bottom 

 of the water, is 

 thought to attract 

 the curious fishes 

 by waving the first 

 spine as a glistening bait, till, in a favorable position, the 

 quick snapping together of the jaws ingulfs them in the 

 capacious mouth. 







CLASS DIPNOI (dip'noi). 



The members of this class are related more closely to 

 the GANOIDS (gan'oidz) than to the TELEOSTS (tel'e osts), 

 though inasmuch as in several particulars they resemble 

 the members of the following class, their present posi- 

 tion is justified. The body is covered with scales, while 

 the skeleton is partially cartilaginous. The most im- 

 portant peculiarity is the lung-like structure of the air- 

 bladder, which resembles the respiratory organ of the 

 Batrachians. 



Lopk'liis amgri cii'n&s. Fishing-frog. 



