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 its appendage. 



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

 ctmbelus maculdtus) is a good example, the dorsal fin is very long, its front portion con- 

 sisting 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 re'duced to a 

 narrow siit, 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. 



TOBACCO-PIPE FIStt.Fistularia tabaccaria. 



In all the species of this genus, with the exception of the Spotted Mastacembelus, the 

 praeoperculum 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 color 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 Pleuronectidae, 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 pro- 

 gression 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 color, 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 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 creep- 

 ing 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 



