29 



or which are small enough to be swallowed whole. Some- 

 times, however, their eyes prove to be larger than their 

 stomachs, and they perish in the attemj^t to swallow a lisli 

 many sizes too large for their capacity. 



Fishes with lancet-shaped teeth, as the kingfish and 

 Spanish mackerel, or with strong, compressed teeth, as the 

 blnelish, are entirely piscivorous, but bite, cut, or lacerate 

 their prey before swallowing it. The teeth of such fishes 

 are miniature shark-teeth, and they are equally as destruc- 

 tive to their smaller congeners. 



Fishes with prolonged or produced jaws, armed with 

 strong, sharp, unequal teeth, as the marine and fresh-Avater 

 gar-lishes, morays, etc., are also wholly piscivorous. 



Fishes with incisor teeth, as the sheeps head, pin-fish {L. 

 rhoniboides)^ scup, etc., have also molar-like teeth, and 

 feed on crabs, shrimps, or mollusks, and are not at all 

 piscivorous. By the aid of its human-like incisors the 

 sheeps head can readily remove barnacles and other mol- 

 lusks from rocks, timbers, etc., and crush them with its 

 powerful molars. 



The drum-lish (P. chroinis), and the fresh-water drum- 

 (A. grnnniens)^ have villiform teeth on the jaws, but a 

 strong pavement of rounded teeth in the throat for crush- 

 ing the shells of mollusks, which is their jjrincipal food, 

 though, as might be judged from their villiform teeth, 

 they occasionally swallow small fishes and crustaceans. 



Thus, by observing the character and jiosition of the 

 teeth of fishes we have a sure and certain indication of the 

 character of their food, that is, of their princi23al and natu- 

 ral food. Of course, there will be exceptions, but they 

 only prove the rule. A herbiverous fish will occasionally 

 swallow animal food, while a carnivorous fish will some- 

 times swallow vegetable matter. A fish that lives mostly 

 on crustaceans, may consume twenty-five per cent, of fishes, 

 and oice versa. They should be judged, however, by what 

 they feed on mostly and habitually, when situated so that 



