220 THE L1\ING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 



INDIAN WEAVER-FISH 



One of tht group of scorpion-fishes 



found off Japan, in which the 

 scales have joined together 

 to form a perfectly solid 

 armour, whilst the paired fins 

 of the abdomen have been 

 reduced to a single spine, with 

 a few vestiges of other rays. 



The next family, a com- 

 parativeh' small one, includes 

 the Tassel-fish, so called from 

 the long and delicate feelers 

 springing from the base of 

 -"^ the breast-fins, of which they 

 originally formed a part. Vary- 

 ing in number from three to 

 fourteen, these feelers can be 

 moved independently of the fins. As these fishes all live in muddy water, and have the eyes 

 obscured by films, such tactile organs are necessary, in order to enable them to procure their 

 food. In some species they attain an enormous length. The flesh is highly esteemed. Some 

 species b.ave an air-bladder, which \'ields a good kind of isinglass, and forms an article of com- 

 merce in the East Indies. The majorit>' are small species, but some attain to a length of 4 feet. 

 No less important than the preceding group, from an economic point of view, are the 

 Me..\(;res, a family of coast-haunting species of the tropical and sub-tropical Atlantic and 

 Indian Oceans, exhibiting a special preference for the mouths of large rivers, into which they 

 freely enter. Some, indeed, have become entirely fresh-water species. 



One of the most interesting of the family is the species to which the name of Dru.M has 

 been given, from the extraordinary noise which it produces — though some other kinds emit 

 similar noises. " These sounds," Dr. Giinther writes, " can better be expressed by the word 

 'drumming' than any other. They appear to be very frequently heard by persons in vessels 

 lying at anchor ofx' the coasts of the United States, where these fishes are verj- common. The 

 precise method b}' which these sounds are produced is not known. Since they are accompanied 

 by a tremulous motion of the vessel, it seems moie probable that they are due to the beating 

 of the tails of the fish against the bottom of the ship to get rid of the parasites with which 

 that part of their body is infested." The drum attains a length of more than 4 feet and a 

 weight of over 100 lbs. 



Though forming but a single small family, the SWORD-FISHES are nevertheless to be 

 reckoned amongst the most 

 interesting of living tishes. 

 Attaining a length of from 

 12 to 15 feet, exceeding 

 vigilant, pugnacious, and 

 powerful, the_\- are amongst 

 the most formidable of all 

 fishes. The)^ derive their 

 name from the great develop- 

 ment of the upper jaw, which 

 forms a huge, tapering, sword- 

 like weapon, covered along 

 its under-surface with numer- 

 ous small teeth. They attack, ^'■■"' >>' ^- '■ ---'^"J srs.- 



apparently without provoca- RAGCJED SEA-SCORPION 



tion, whales and other large d le^ionj repraent^n-uc of ihe scorpi.m-fishts 



