THE SENSE-ORGANS AND PEBOEPTION OF FISHES. 



241 



in tlie water unless it be lowered so tliat the sole is able to cover 

 part of it witli the lower side of its head, when it seizes it at once. 

 These remarks apply to the common sole {Solea vulgaris), to Solea 

 mimita, and probably to all the other species, but none of these have 

 lived in the aquarium long enough for observation. 



The fact that soles are hardly ever taken with a hook is no doubt 

 due to this manner of feeding ; for the bait is not allowed to lie on 

 the bottom except in long line fishing, which is done with large 

 hooks only and on rough ground. If long lines with small gear 

 were laid on the soft ground where the soles live, it is by no means 

 unlikely that they would be taken. In this case it would probably 

 be found to be the most rational way of catching soles. 



The sterlet and loaches on perceiving the smell of food hunt for 

 it with their noses and barbels on the bottom. The barbels of the 

 sterlet do not appear to be moveable as those of the pouting, &c., are, 

 and the specimens watched at Brighton did not shovel with their 

 noses, but protruded their remarkable jaws, and appeared to make 

 random bites at the bottom when food was thrown in. 



The Senses of Fishes which seek their Food by Sight. 



The majority of fishes belong to this class. The following is a list 

 of all the species which have been observed in the Aquarium either at 

 Brighton or Plymouth to feed in this manner. Many others — as, for 

 example, the Salmonidse and Scomhridae — might have been added, 

 but I have only given the names of those which have come under 

 my own observation. 



Bass {Lahrax lu^us). 

 Bream {PageUiis centrodontus) . 

 Bullhead {Cottus scorpius). 

 Red gurnard {Trigia cuculus). 

 Grey gurnard (Tub) {T. hirundo). 

 Pogg'e {Agonus cataphractus) . 

 Weever {Trachimis viper a). 

 Horse-mackerel {Caranx tra- 



churiis) . 

 Herring [Glupea harengus). 

 Dory [Zeus faber). 

 Boar-fish [Gapros aper). 

 Goby [Gohius minutus). 

 Dragonet {Callionymus lyra). 

 Lump-fish [Gyclopterus liimpus). 

 Blenny {Blejinius pJiolis) . 



Gattorugine (Blennius gattoru- 



gine) . 

 Butter-fish {Gentronotus gunnel- 



lus) . 

 Grey mullet [Mugil chelo). 

 Three-spined stickleback {Gas- 



terosteus acideatus). 

 Fifteen-spined stickleback [G. 



spinachia) . 

 Spotted wrasse [Lahrus macii- 



laUis) . 

 Rainbow wrasse {Coris jidis) . 

 Pouting [Gadus luscus). 

 Whiting [Gadus merlangus). 

 Pollack [Gadus pollachius). 

 Cod [Gadus morrhua). 



