172 OUTLINES OF ICHTHYOLOGY. 



Other cases they are of different patterns. The 

 most usual form in carnivorous fish is that of a 

 slender elongated cone, slightly curved inwards 

 to assist in holding a struggling prey. In her- 

 bivorous fish the form is commonly that of a 

 short rounded tubercle with a flat crown, adapted 

 for crushing. Sometimes the teeth are so small 

 and numerous, more especially in insect-eaters, as 

 to have the appearance of the hairs of a brush. 

 Occasionally they are thin and flat, with a cutting 

 edge. 



By these characteristics the habits and food of 

 fish may usually be as readily discovered as those 

 of graminivorous and carnivorous animals by the 

 same means. 



The "throat teeth" in the Carp, Tench, Roach, 

 and Barbel are remarkably large, and would pro- 

 bably surprise most fishermen who have never 

 examined them. 



The teeth are named according to the bone upon 

 which they are placed, as inter-maxillaty teeth, 

 maxillary, vomerine, palatmc, &c. The engraving 

 exhibits a front view of the mouth in the common 

 T rout {Salino /ario), which is chosen as displaying 

 the most complete series of teeth amongst the 

 Salmon family. 



