THE BREATHING APPARATUS, ETC., OF FISH 25, 
throat molar-like teeth arranged in one, two, or three series on 
the pharyngeal bones, suitable for bruising or pulping vegetable 
diet. Coupled with this masticatory apparatus, the palate in 
Cyprinoid fishes is padded with a thick, soft skin of whitish 
colour, rendered very sensitive by numerous nerves. This, it 
is supposed, may be the organ of taste, enabling carp to enjoy 
the flavour of their food, of which other fish are probably 
little sensible in the act of bolting it. Humanitarians might 
perceive in this an additional argument against carp-fishing ; 
but I can testify from experience that a large salmon-hook 
deeply buried in the muscle of the human lower lip causes 
scarcely perceptible pain, although the process of extraction 
cannot be described as agreeable. In the Cyclostomata the 
teeth are adapted for a peculiar boring process, as will be 
described in dealing with the lampreys. 
The degree in which fish are sensible of pain is a matter of 
speculation which has often been discussed, and still occupies 
The sense the anxious thoughts of tender-hearted people who 
of touch. are fond of angling. Not one of these but would 
abandon his cherished pursuit were he convinced, or did he 
even suspect, that the sufferings of a hooked salmon fighting 
for his life during twenty minutes of “play” were as 
excruciating as those of a rabbit struggling with torn flesh 
and shattered bones in an iron trap appear to be. The 
cruelty of the performance would be so shocking that salmon- 
fishing must necessarily be expunged from the category of 
sport, to which rabbit-trapping never has been admitted. 
And yet, startling as it may seem to persons who have 
never considered the matter deeply, the suffering of the two 
animals probably differs in intensity only in proportion to 
their relative intelligence. The rabbit suffers more acutely 
than the salmon because of its greater brain-power, and for 
the same reason a dog, accidentally trapped, undergoes sharper 
mental agony than a rabbit. As for the sheer physical 
pain, we are entitled to remember that merciful provision 
