PISCES 



203 



The ear' has a relative size found in no other vertebrate. 

 There are no external ears. Many teleosts have two otoliths. 

 Experiments show that the ear is principally for a balancing 

 organ. 



Fig. 163.— Stickleback and nest. (From Baskett, " The Story of the 

 Fishes," D. Appleton and Co., Publishers.) 



1 " The maigre is said to produce a flute-like note audible in twenty 

 fathoms. Many fishes utter sounds, but perhaps the grunt (Hoemulon) 

 on the outer Florida reef is most remarkable for the variation of the sound. 

 . . . The dog-fish utters a croak or bark. The gizard-shad (Hippo- 

 campus), eels, catfish, porcupine-fish, sunfish, carp, gurnards, etc., utter 

 sounds either accidental or intentional. The sound, a single note, fre- 

 quently uttered by the eel is, according to Abbott, more distinctly mu- 

 sical than those made by other fishes." (Holder.) 



