PISCES 



203 



The ear' has a relative size found in no other vertebrate. 

 There are no c>xternal ears. Many teleosts have two otoliths. 

 Experiments show that the ear is principally for a balancing 



organ. 



Fig. 163.- 



-Stickleback and nest. (From Baskett, " The Story of the 

 Fishes," D. Appleton and Co., Pubhshers.) 



' " The maigre is said to produce a flute-lilte note audible in twenty 

 fathoms. Many fishes utter sounds, but perhaps the grunt ( Hoemulon) 

 on the outer Florida reef is most remarkable for the variation of the sound. 

 . . . The dog-fish utters a croak or bark. The gizard-shad (Hippo- 

 campus), eels, catfish, porcupine-fish, sunfish, carp, gurnards, etc., utter 

 sounds either accidental or intentional. The sound, a single note, fre- 

 quently uttered by the eel is, according to .\bbott, more distinctly mu- 

 sical than those made by other fishes." (Holder.) 



