290 VENOMS 



wise protrude their venomous spines when conscious of danger. The 

 poison-apparatus of these fishes is therefore of an eminently defen- 

 sive character. 



According to Bottard, the spawning season increases the activity 

 of the poison-glands and at the same time the toxicity of the secreted 

 product. Several species, such as- those of the genus Cottus and the 

 perch, possess no apparent secreting cells except at this period. 

 Certain toxicoplwroiis or poisonous fishes, such as the species of 

 Tetrodon, are particularly noxious at the time when their genital 

 glands are at their maximum activity. 



A. — TeLEOSTEI. — ACANTHOPTERYGII. 



1.— Triglidse. 



The fishes of this family are all repulsively ugly. They have an 

 elongate and but slightly compressed body, covered with ctenoid 

 scales, and a large head in which the suborbital bones, which are 

 broad, unite with the prgeopercular so as to form an osseous plate 

 in the malar region. The pectoral fins are large, and provided 

 with a few detached rays, which perform the function of tactile 

 organs ; the ventral fins are situate on the breast. These fishes are 

 extremely voracious. 



The most interesting type is the Syiiaticeia termed by the Creoles 

 of Eeunion Crapaucl de mer, and by those of Mauritius Laffe. In 

 Java it is called IJian-Safan (Devil-fish), and in Tahiti Nohu. It is 

 distributed throughout almost all the warmer regions of the Indian 

 and Pacific Oceans, and is found in Cochin-China and New Caledonia. 



It is never taken in the open sea, but only among the fringing 

 reefs, where it lives constantly concealed in holes or buried in the 

 sand. It does not come out except to make a sudden dart at prey 

 passing within its reach. AVhen irritated it does not eject venom ; 

 for the latter to be expelled one has either to press hard upon the 

 poison-sacs, after pushing back with the fingers the membranes 

 covering the dorsal defensive armature, or the naked foot must be 



