ORGANS OF OFFENCE AND DEFENCE. 135 



myzon marinits)^ -whicli form a connecting link 

 between fishes and molluscous animals; also tlie 

 lump-fish or sea-owl ( Cyclo'pterus lumpus)^ which, 

 like the two former, has the power of adhering to 

 bodies by the suction of its mouth. Under the 

 latter come the common eel (Anguilla vulgaris J, 

 the conger (Murcena conger)., the blenny (Blen- 

 niiis viviparus)^ one of the osseous fishes which 

 produce living young, and most of the Siluri. 



Another description of fishes is that in which the 

 scales are not distinct, yet in which the skin is not 

 slimy and viscous, as in those above referred to. 

 In these the epidermis is smooth, and placed over 

 nacreous pigment. This is exemplified in the 

 mackarel f Scomber scomber J, the blade-fish (Tri- 

 chiurus lepturiis)^ the Stylephorus argenteus., and 

 the stickleback ( Gasterosteus aculeatus). 



But the form which should be regarded as the 

 normal character of the skin in fishes, may be il- 

 lustrated by our figure of 



