200 INTEODL'CTIOK TO ZOOLOGY. 



But, althougli we may convince ourselves of the truth of 

 this remark, by an examination of those on our own shores, 

 we should not limit our view to them, but extend it to those 

 of other seas. There, with new forms we find new vestments. 

 Thus, the Trunk-fish* (Ostracion, Fig. 180), and the Pipe- 

 ^^:^^i=;n>^ fishes of our own 



^^^ ^^'^^^^^^^^^Pk stead of being covered 



^^K>»'T!r:^^^r^^^^vv^ "'^§&;<i^ with flexible scales, 



^^^^'^''^^''''^^'^'^^^^^^-<^^ff>^^^^^^^^ are clad in a covering 

 '^)P^^^^^^^^^'^^ of bony plates firmly 

 ^^ united together, re- 



Fig. isa-TaraK-nsH. minding us of a tes- 



selated pavement ; and if we look back to those which in re- 

 mote eras were the inhabitants of these seas, and whose re- 

 mains are found imbedded in rocks of marine formation in 

 different parts of these islands, we find numerous tribes whose 

 coats of mail did not consist of bone but of enamel. 



Senses. — The sense of feeling can scarcely be exerted in its 

 fullest extent by the bodies of fishes, covered as they ai-e with 

 their scaly integuments. From this remark, however, we 

 should except the long cirri or feelers of certain fishes, which 

 are placed about the mouth. "These appendages," says Mr. 

 Yarrell, " are to them delicate organs of touch, by which all 

 the species provided with them are enabled to ascertain, to a 

 certain extent, the qualities of the various substances with 

 which they are brought in contact ; and are analogous in fmic- 

 tion to the beak, with its distribution of nerves, among cer- 

 tain wading and swimming birds which probe for food beyond 

 their sight ; and may be considered another instance, among 

 the many beautifvil provisions of Nature, by which, in the case 

 of fishes feeding at great depths, where light is deficient, com- 

 pensation is made for consequent imperfect vision, "t As the 



with the utmost ease by the naked eye. The scales of the Sahiion answer 

 best for the purpose, as they are large and easily detached." — "On certain 

 Appearances Observed in the Dissection of the Eyes of Fishes." — Trans. 

 Roy. Soc. of EJinhiirrjh. 1815. 



The slender, flat, silvery bodies, here named "spicula," are perfectly 

 opaque, and must therefore be examined under tiie microscope by reflected 

 not by transmitted light : when thus seen, their brilliancy is almost too great 

 for the eve to sustain. — /dem^ 



* M. "Edwards' "Elemens," p. 303. Koget, p. 432. 



f Briti.sh Fishes, p. 30. 



