FISHES 



291 



Osteichthyes 



THE TELEOSTEAN EYE 



TELEOSTEAXS are a huge and diversified class which comprises the 

 great majority of modern fishes. Ocularly — and in many other respects 

 — they show the highest differentiation among fishes, exhibiting many 

 anatomical and physiological characteristics which are peculiar to 

 themselves. 



Figs. ,321 and 322. — Typical Teleostean Fishes. 



Fig. 321. — The cai'p, Cyprinus (photograph by Michael Soley). 



Fig. 322. — The mouth-ljreeder cielihd, CicJiIa (Zool. Soo., London). 



Although there are great variations among the many sjDecies. tlie 

 teleostean eye has certain essential characteristics (Figs. 323-4) : 



an mcoiuplefe civp of hijaUne scleral cartilage, and a tendevcy to 

 multi-layering of the cornea ; 



a very elaborately developed annidar ligament bridging the angle of 



