62 FISH GALLERY. 



dorsal and anal fins so thickly covered with scales that the 

 boundary between fins and body is entirely obliterated. The 

 beauty and singularity of distribution of the colours of some 

 genera {Choetodon, Heniochus, Holacanthus) is scarcely surpassed 

 in any other group of fishes. The genus Chelmo is remarkable in 

 having the snout produced into along tube, which probably enables 

 the fish to draw from holes and crevices animals which otherwise 

 could not be reached by it. A well-known species from the East 

 Indies is Toxotes jaculator. It has received its name from its 

 habit of throwing a drop of water at an insect which it perceives 

 close to the surface in order to make it fall into it. The Malays 

 keep it in a bowl in order to witness this singular habit, which it 

 continues even in captivity. 



The Scorpcenidce (Case 7) are carnivorous marine fishes, many of 

 which possess skinny appendages resembling the fronds of seaweeds, 

 by which they either attract other fishes or by which they are 

 enabled more effectually to hide themselves. The dentition is 

 feeble, but some of the bones of the head are armed with spines. 

 To this family belong the Sebastes, which approach the Sea-Perches 

 in forms and habits ; the Scorpcena, the head of which is strongly 

 armed with spines, and generally furnished with skinny tentacles. 

 Allied to the preceding is Pterois volitans. The dorsal spines and 

 pectoral rays of this fish are much prolonged, passing beyond the 

 margin of the connecting membrane. It is one of the most 

 singularly formed and most beautifully coloured fishes of the 

 tropics, and was formerly believed to be able to fly like Dactylo- 

 pterus. But the membrane connecting the pectoral rays is much 

 too short and feeble to enable it to raise itself from the surface of 

 the water. The species of the genus Synanceia are justly feared 

 on account of the dangerous wounds which they can inflict with 

 their poisonous dorsal spines. The terminal half of each spine is 

 provided with a deep groove on each side, at the lower end of 

 which lies a pear-shaped bag containing the milky poison. This 

 sac is prolonged into a membranous duct, lying in the groove of 

 the spine, and open at its point. 



The Cottidce, or Gurnards (Case 8), are fishes of singular 

 appearance, nearly all marine, bad swimmers, and generally living 

 at the bottom near the coasts. Their body is oblong, subcylindrical, 



