64 BRAIN AND BODY OF FISH 



and of the fishermen towards the question of hearing in fish would 

 not have been so sceptical, and we should have heard fewer dogmatic 

 denials of its existence. The explanation of this statement is 

 that this family possesses such an obvious ear and auditory apparatus 

 that there could be no doubt of its acoustic function. Bearing this 

 in mind, when the icthyologist came to examine the ear of a cj^ri- 

 noid, he would have at once recognised that the Weberian ossicles 

 were an integral part of an organ of hearing, connecting the swim- 

 bladder with the internal ear ; the whole subject of hearing in fishes 

 would not have remained in such confusion as it has until recent 

 times ; and we would not have had to wait for a correct solution 

 of the problem until the beginning of the twentieth century. But 

 this family has many other claims to attention from the natm-alist, 

 and historically we read how it was venerated by the Egyptians ; 

 and the Mormyrs of the Nile are said to have been frequently 

 represented on mural paintings and hieroglyphics. The reason 

 for this distinction is the quaint and unusual features of the 

 animal. 



A prominent nose always seems to attract attention, and Mormy- 

 rus has been provided with a snout that even an elephant might 

 envy. The front of the head in most of the species is prolonged 

 and tends to curve downwards, while in some it is prolonged into a 

 regular trunk, and the lower lip in some is continued into a fleshy 

 appendage, no doubt of use in searching for food. In most, the 

 mouth is small and the teeth are small and few. The eyes are small 

 and may be covered over by a skin. Whether the mouth and lips 

 are provided with taste-buds is not stated. The shape of the trunk 

 varies from that of a torpedo to that of an eel ; and in this con- 

 nection it is interesting to note that its near relation, the Albula, has 

 a larval form, through which the young pass, analogous to that of the 

 eels. The most eel-like of the Mormyrids is Gymnarchus, which 

 propels itself entirely by means of its dorsal fin, and moves with 

 equal ease either forwards or backwards, nosing its way backwards 

 by using the tip of its tail as a feeler. This fish also makes a floating 

 nest which is jealously guarded by the male. 



To add to this tale of eccentricities, the flsh is provided with an 

 electric organ situate in the caudal region and derived from the 

 muscular system. There is a strange analogy between Gymnarchus 

 and Gymnotus electrophorus ; both fish are specially adapted so 

 as to be eel-like in form, and in both the auditory organ is speciahsed ; 

 in both there is an electric organ caudally situated and derived 

 from the muscular system ; but the communication of the swim- 

 bladder with the ear remains throughout fife in Gymnotus, though 



