FLAT FISHES. 



299 



THERE is a curious family of fishes, termed the Mastacembelidae, in which the body is 

 long and eel-like, covered with little scales, and remarkable for the odd-looking snout and 



In these strange-looking fishes, of which the SPOTTED MASTACEMBELUS (Mastacemlelus 

 maculdtus) is a good example, the dorsal fin is very long, its front portion consisting of a 

 number of short free spines. The anal fin is also furnished with similar spines, and the 

 ventral fins are altogether wanting. The gill-openings are reduced to a narrow slit, and 

 the movable appendage of the upper jaw is smooth on its under side. The jaws are 

 furnished with minute teeth, and the lower jaw is but slightly movable. In all the 



TOBACCO-PIPE FISH. Fistuldria tabaccario. 



species of this genus, with the exception of the Spotted Mastacembelus, the prseoperculurn 

 is armed at its angle with small teeth. 



This species is found in the fresh waters of Java and Sumatra. The dorsal fin joins 

 that of the tail, which is again joined by the long anal fin. The colour of the fish is brown, 

 diversified with darker blotches, and the fins are edged with yellow. 



THE Flat Fishes, as they are popularly called, or the Pleuronectidse, as they are named 

 scientifically, are among the most remarkable of the finny tribe. The latter name is of 

 Greek origin, and signifies side-swimmer, in allusion to the mode of progression usually 

 adopted by these fishes. 



The popular but erroneous idea of these creatures is, that their bodies are flattened so 

 that the abdomen rests on the ground and the back remains uppermost ; but a brief 

 examination suffices to show that the form of these fishes is really compressed, so that 

 when a turbot or a sole is placed on the ground, it lies upon one side or the other. 

 Though varying in colour, it is found that the upper side is always of a dark tint, 

 the under side being quite if not wholly white. This arrangement is most useful 

 in guarding them against the attacks of enemies, their flat dark upper surface bearing so 

 great a resemblance to the sand on which they love to creep, that they can scarcely be 

 distinguished, even when the eye is directed towards them. 



While at their ease, they slide themselves over the bed of the sea in a kind of creeping 

 fashion, and have an odd custom of lying with the head raised in a manner that 

 irresistibly reminds the observer of the cobra. If alarmed, they start at once into the 

 vertical position usually assumed by fishes, and dash off with astonishing speed. As they 

 swim, the flat fishes undulate through the water in a most graceful manner, and it is very 



