CARTILAGINOUS FISHES. 



513 



every other fish, and particularly from those of all other osseous 

 fishes. They are quadrangular, a little flat, each of the four corners 

 terminating in a small cylindrical beak a kind of pocket formed of a 

 strong and transparent memhrane. 



The Lump-fish, E. clavata (Fig. 350), so called in consequence of its 

 armature, inhabits every European sea ; sometimes it attains the length 

 of twelve feet, and, being 'excellent eating, is much sought after by 

 fishermen. It is frequently seen with the skate in European markets. 

 A ray of great curving spines occupies the back and extends to the 

 end of the tail; two similar spines are above, and two below the 

 point of the muzzle. Two others are placed before, and three behind 

 the eyes. Each side of the tail is furnished with a row of shorter 

 spines ; the whole surface, in short, bristles with larger or smaller 

 spines, justifying the name of buckler-fish ; for these are not 



Fig. 351. The Cramp-fish (Torpedo marmorata). 



given by way of ornament, but defence. The colour of the upper 

 surface is generally brown, with whitish spots. The tail, which 

 exceeds the body in length, presents towards the end two small 

 dorsals, terminating in a caudal fin. 



Kay-fish of all kinds are inhabitants of the deep sea, but they 

 change according to the seasons. While stormy weather prevails, 

 they hide themselves in the depth of the ocean, where they lie in 

 ambush, creeping along the bottom. But they do not always live at 

 the bottom. They rise occasionally to the surface far from the shore, 

 eagerly chasing other inhabitants of the deep, lashing the water with 

 their formidable tails and fins, springing out of the water, and making 

 it foam again under their gambols. 



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