296 



VENOMS 



The pairs attached to the second anal spine are, as the direct result 

 of the size of the latter, more developed than those of the other 

 spines. 



In the Bascasse, the opercular spines of which are greatly 

 developed, there is a rudiment of a poison-apparatus at the bot- 

 tom of the sheath formed by the skin of the gills. 



The species of Pterois (fig. 105) are distinguished from those of 

 Scorpccna by their dorsal fins, the rays of which are very long and 



Fig. 106. — Pclor filamentosum (Family Triglldce, Mauritius). 



curved backwards, above the membrane by which they are united. 

 They are found in the Indian and Equatorial Pacific Oceans, and are 

 very beautiful in colour, varying from reddish-brown to bright rose. 



The poison-apparatus of these fishes is situated in the dorsal fin, 

 and is precisely similar to that of ScorpcBiia. 



The species of Pelor (fig. 106) present greater resemblance to 

 those of Synanceia, owing to their heads being crushed in in front. 

 Their eyes stand up above the head and are very close together, 

 which helps to give them an extremely ugly appearance. The skin 

 is soft and spongy, and bristles with jagged fleshy shreds. 



