FISHES. 



Wolf Fisl 



Sucking Fish. 



^ 



J* 



Chaetodon, or Catfish. 



Torpedo. 



Lamprey. 



Eel. 



Flounder. 



Horned Silurus. 



The Torpedo affords a second instance of the electric power belonging to a fish. The organs producing 

 the shock appear externally in two elevations extending from the eyes about half down the body. It is 

 usually found in the Mediterranean. The force of the shock depends on the size and health of the fish, 

 but a fair-sized, healthy fish can, for a time, disable a strong man. Occasionally a fish of this kind has 

 been caught, weighing one hundred pounds. 



The Lamprey is chiefly remarkable for the mouth, which, being formed like that of the Leech, enables 

 it to hold firmly to every object by suction. The breathing apparatus externally consists of fourteen 

 apertures, seven on each side of the neck. It undulates through the water. It is found in the Mediter- 

 ranean, in the northern European rivers, and also in America. It goes up rivers to spawn, and at this 

 time is in highest order for the table. 



The Flounder is somewhat less than a foot long ; has no tubercles, but has a band of small, sharp spines 

 on the side line, and at the junction of the dorsal and posterior fins with the body, and is covered witli 

 small, oblong scales adhering firmly to the skin. It haunts the mouths of rivers, and penetrates into fresh 

 water. It lives long after being captured. Its flesh is greatly prized. 



The Horned Silurus has a large head and oblong body; the fin covering the gills has from four to fourteen 

 spines; and the leading bones or spines of its back are toothed. 



The Eels have a form very like that of the serpents, and possessing no belly-fins, are named Apoda, or 

 footless fish. Like serpents, they seem destitute of scales, yet when the skin is dried, very small scales 

 may be seen through the half-transparent outer skin, and by separating the two skins may readily lie 

 detached. They usually inhabit muddy ponds and rivers, and are also found in many canals. They are 

 sensitive to cold, and, reversing the salmon's habits, they descend the rivers to spawn in the sea. whence 

 the young work their way back. They can live long out of water, and often go inland for various pur- 

 poses, one of which is to find the frogs and worms on which they feed. In winter they lie torpid in the 

 mud, and are then speared by thousands. 



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