752 



THE EYE IN EVOLUTION 



for this purpose (White, 1918 ; Woelfflin, 1955) (Fig. 901). The electric 

 organ of the stargazer assumes a considerable size, about 1/10 of the length 

 of the body, and occupies most of the space of the enlarged orbit so that the 

 small eye, protected by an unusually thick sclera, is crowded into its anterior 



Fig. 902. — The Orbit of the Stargazer. 

 Showing the electric organ (Bland-Sutton). 



portion (Fig. 902) ; although the organ is relatively large, the shock derived 

 from it, while somewhat unpleasant, is a mere tickle compared with that 

 of certain electric fishes which can knock a man off liis feet. The upward- 

 looking eyes are situated on the upper aspect of the head just in front of 

 the mouth, and as small fishes swim over the stargazer, it paralyses them 

 with an electric shock so that they tumble into its gaping mouth (Dahlgren 

 and Sylvester, 1906). 



Dahlgren and Sylvester. Anat. Anz., 29, 387 



(1906). 

 Garten. Winterstein's Hb. d. vergl. PliysioL, 



3, 105(1910). 



White. Publ. Carnegie Inst., 12, 252 (1918). 

 Woelfflin. Klin. Mbl. Augenheilk., 126, 348 

 (1955). 



