GREAT BRITAIN. 5 



The comparative anatomist and embryologist takes 

 another standpoint ; considering morphology as the basis of 

 all classification, the fish is examined from its earliest ap- 

 preciable stage, its changes and its life history come under 

 review. Histology is called into assistance, the microscope 

 and the dissecting knife are the constant accessories of 

 those who have selected this laborious path, one which, 

 perhaps, leads to the most solid results. 



The pisciculturist and field-naturalist are often more con- 

 cerned as to how fishes live and breed, how hybrids occur, 

 and whether such are or are not sterile, the reasons why 

 some forms thrive or the reverse, the causes of migrations, 

 their geographical distribution, the effects of temperature, 

 light or darkness, depths and physical conditions of the 

 water, electrical disturbances and storms, ocean circulation, 

 and also the best modes of transporting the living and 

 conveying the dead ; the voracity of fishes, their favourite 

 food, how to capture them with the least injury to the 

 fisheries ; and to these have to be conjoined investigations 

 into their faculties of taste, smell, respiration, hearing, the 

 production of sounds, as well as if they emit odour when 

 in the water ; their emotion and instincts, whether they 

 sleep, and their amount of sensibility to pain ; diseases to 

 which they are subject, or causes of their destruction ; the 

 effects on them of injuries ; their friends and their enemies ; 

 how some seek refuge inside other animals, or use such as 

 affording them means for moving from place to place ; how 

 the eyes of some living in dark caverns are deficient, and 

 small in such as usually reside in muddy situations ; how 

 their colours vary, and the cause of such ; how some living 

 at considerable depths in the sea emit light, and others 

 after life has ceased, but prior to putrefaction having com- 

 menced. Lastly, the effects of a fish diet ; how injuries 



