NATURAL HISTORY. 



343 



Thick in yon stream of light, a thousand ways, 

 Upward, and downward, thwarting, and convolv d, 

 The quivering nations sport.&quot; THOMSON. 



those which parrots occupy in tropical forests : they even excel 

 the parrots in brilliancy while living. All the colours have a 

 metallic lustre, and though some of them are of one very intense 

 colour, as golden, yellow, ultra-marine, or rich bronze, when the 

 fish is at rest ; yet, when it moves, they are irridescent, and 

 sparkle with gem-like lustre. The chcetodon striatus is sometimes 

 called the zebra, on account of its beautiful stripes. 



1108. What, peculiarity does the structure and habits of 

 globe fishes present ? 



These fishes possess the power 

 of distending themselves into a 

 globular form, by inflating with air 

 a large sac contained in the 

 abdomen. When thus distended, 

 they float along the water with the 

 back downwards, swimming on 

 wards by means of their pectoral 

 fins. They are covered with a 

 series of large spines ; which are 

 raised up when the body is thus 

 inflated, so as to form a very 

 efficient means of defence. 



Tax 



1108. Why is the upper jaw of the sword-jish elongated into 



blade-like weapon ? 



The sword-fish inhabits seas where the monsters of the deep, 



wliales, sharks, and throws abound Here these monsters battle 



