176 The Under-Water World 



instead of finding access to the wound 

 through special channels in the teeth, it 

 is broadcasted over the whole mouth 

 diffusing itself amongst the lacerated 

 tissues of the victim. 



Many of the numerous species of cat- 

 fish are poisonous, the front of their 

 dorsal fin being in some forms armed 

 with a spine connected with a poison 

 gland. The spine is raised suddenly by 

 special trigger-like muscles, and does 

 execution in the most approved stage- 

 assassin manner. 



A few fish are able to make themselves 

 heard, producing various loud sounds. 

 Thus the gurnards and puffer fish, when 

 taken out of the water, make pig-like 

 grunting noises, whilst an East Indian 

 gurami is said to emit a feeble bark. The 

 fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, 

 represented off our shores by the Meagre, 

 produce melodious drumming sounds. 

 According to Kyle " the drummers occur 



