92 THE STORY OF FISH LIFE. 



of the plaice or sole, for instance. Like the 

 shark, however, the skate is carnivorous, but is 

 unable to pursue and catch swiftly - moving 

 animals ; instead, it preys upon slow-moving or 

 stationary animals, such as shell-fish (mollusca) 

 and Crustacea (crabs and lobsters). It may be 

 that this modification is a result of adaptation, 

 fitting it for a new mode of life when competition 

 was less. But the craving for the flesh of 

 animals of its own class, or even species, has not 

 been lost, though it is one which could never be 

 gratified were it not for the fact that it is pro- 

 tectively coloured. That is to say, the colour of 

 its upper surface closely assimilates with that of 

 its surroundings. Taking advantage of this fact, 

 the skate lies quietly at the bottom, so quietly 

 that unwary fishes approach near enough to be 

 suddenly pounced upon. With a swifo sudden 

 spring the crafty ghost-like monster throws itself 

 upon its unsuspecting victim, so as, to quote 

 Dr Giinther, " to cover and hold it down with 

 its body, when it is conveyed by some rapid 

 motions to the mouth." Thus the poor victim is 

 both smothered and swallowed at the same time. 

 The position of the mouth on the under surface 

 of the flattened body, and the weak jaws and 

 teeth render this method of enveloping the prey 

 absolutely necessary. 



But the death-traps of the sea are many. 

 Down in its silent depths we seem to see 

 "nature red in tooth and claw," urging her chil- 

 dren forward to deeds of blood as relentlessly as 

 on land. Or rather perhaps these should be 

 looked upon as the degenerate ones — those upon 



