196 



THE INHABITANTS OT. THE SEA. 



their pursuit and practise their artful dodges with a much 

 better chance of success. The eyes in fishes are observed to 

 occupy very different positions in different species, but their 

 situation; is always such as best to suit the exigencies of the 

 particular fish. Thus in the star-gazer and sea-devil, that 

 watch their prey from a muddy concealment, they are very 

 appropriately placed at the top of the head, while in the flat-, 

 fishes, where an eye on the side habitually turned towards the 

 ground would have been useless, the distorted head, by placing 

 both eyes on the same level, affords them an extensive range of 

 view in those various directions in which they may either en- 

 deavour to find suitable food or avoid dangerous enemies. That 

 fishes are not deficient in the sense of hearing may be seen 

 at onqe by the annexed illustrations, which show a marked 



Internal -Ear of Perch. 



similarity of organisation between the human ear and that of 

 the perch. It is well known that they start at the report of a 



Osseous labyrinth of the Human Ear. 



a. Oral or vestibular fenestra; b, round or cochlear fenestra} c, external or horizontal semi- 

 circular canal ; d. superior or anterior vertical semicircular canal ; e, posterior or inferior 

 vertical semicircular canal t f, the turns of cochlea. 



gun, though it is impossible for them to see the flash. Sir 

 Joseph Banks used to collect his fishes by sounding a bell, and 

 the Chinese call the gold-fish with a whistle to receive their 



