METHODS OF PROTECTION AMONG ANIMALS. Lb 
highly specialized family of fishes are the pristide or saw- 
fishes, belonging to sharks and rays. Their terrible saw-like 
weapon is developed from the cartilage of the mouth, and 
consists of five portions strongly welded together, furnished 
with lateral rows of teeth in sockets. The fish itself may be 20 
feet long and the saw 6 feet. They have their mouth on the 
under surface like sharks and have no needlessly strong teeth. 
They strike their prey sideways, thus tearing the flesh to 
pieces, and devourit at leisure. One of the ugliest and most 
singular of fishes is,the British angler-fish or sea-devil, with 
its marvellous fishing tackle, living at small depths on the 
coasts. Lying at the bottom, it can move on its surface, 
as if walking, with its pectoral and ventral fins used as 
limbs, and generally hidden in seaweed. It is_ also 
protectively coloured, and all round the great head are 
fringes. This is not all—the angler-fish les with its great 
mouth wide open and is furnished with three long filaments 
inserted along the middle of the head. The longest of these, 
the first. is able to move in all directions by way of attracting 
prey into its capacious maw. Flying-fish need to be 
remembered, and are too familiar to need description, except 
to state that their flight resembles that of a parachute in 
principle and may extend to 500 feet. 
Amphibia —This class of animals is not of sufficient 
importance from our present point of view to detain us long, 
and it will only be necessary to mention a few characteristics 
of the group, of which frogs, toads, or the _ tailless 
amphibians, and newts, salamanders, or tailled amphibians, 
are the chief. They would appear in general to be very 
little protected against the various dangers of animal life, 
with their soft, naked skin. But in them a considerable 
element of protection is bestowed by their coloration, 
which strikingly resembles the colours and appearance of 
their surroundings, and which is able in a wonderful manner 
to change according to those surroundings, Their skin is 
moist and flexible and can be shed and renewed frequently. 
It serves the very important function of absorbing moisture 
from their damp, marshy homes or from the water in which 
they may live. This is their method of drinking. Their 
skin is also endowed with numerous glands secreting a 
milky, poisonous fluid, partly of a protective character. 
Reptiles constitute a larger and more important group than 
Amphibia and include snakes, lizards, tortoises, turtles, and 
crocodiles, 
