632 



The Living Animals of the World 



Phoiobii W. Savillc-KcHl, F.Z.6.] 



[Mdford-on-Sea. 



GAEPIKES. 



PrecLUently called Guard-fiahes. 



whilst others enjoy the 

 rather unusual distinction 

 of being able to live in 

 either fresh or salt water, 

 even when rapidly trans- 

 ferred from one to the 

 other. The small species 

 commonly inhabiting 

 ponds and ditches can 

 sustain changes of this 

 kind with impunity. These 

 last are very ferocious. 

 One kept in an aquarium 

 devoured in five hours 

 seventy-four young dace 

 about a quarter of an 

 inch long. They occa- 

 sionally occur in vast 

 shoals, and, according to 



the naturalist Pennant, appear in the river Welland, in Lincolnshire, once in seven years in 

 amazing shoals, so that a man employed in collecting them earned four shillings a day by 

 selling them at the rate of a halfpenny a bushel ! 



The salt-water species, or FiI'TEEN-spined Stickleback, is less well known. Like its fresh- 

 water relative, it is a nest-builder, and the male defends the eggs and young with great courage. 



The Tortoise-fishes may serve as the representatives of the last family of this group. They 

 are very remarkable fishes, being invested in a wonderful bony cuirass, formed by a modification 

 of the skeleton, similar to what has taken place among the Tortoises and Turtles. The body is 

 so thin that it looks as if it had been artificially compressed, and is semi-transparent. Three 

 species are known from the tropical Lido-Pacific and three from other seas ; besides these are 

 four smaller and less perfectly armed forms, one of which, the Trumpet -fish, or Bellows-fish, 

 occurs rarely off the south coast of England. 



The Garpike and Flyixg-fishes are both interesting, especially the latter. The garpike 

 is represented by several species, easily recognised by the long, pointed jaws. These fishes 



are furthermore peculiar in 

 : ' ■• that the bones are green, a 



colour which remains even 

 after cooking, and on this 

 account some object to eating 

 them, supposing the unusual 

 colour to indicate unsoundness. 

 The elongated jaws are not 

 developed in the young fish, 

 and, strangely enough, as 

 this character is acquired, the 

 lower jaw grows faster than 

 the upper. In some species 

 the lower jaw remains perma- 

 nently the longer ; hence they 

 are known as Half-beaks. 



The Flying-fishes, or 

 Flying-heerings, like the 

 P'lying-gurn aids already 



Pirii-FISH. 

 iioutli, ;is tbn flsh 13 uftcu railed, is really a gigantic stidtleback. 



The Flute 



