Fish Study 153 



11. What is the nature of the covering of the fish? Are the scales 

 large or small? In which direction do they seem to overlap? Of what 

 use to the fish is this scaly covering? 



12. Can you see a line which extends from the upper part of the gill 

 opening, along the side to the tail? This is called the lateral line. Do 

 you think it is of any use to the fish ? 



13. Note carefully the eyes of the fish. Describe the pupil and the 

 iris. Are the eyes placed so that the fish can see in all directions? Can 

 they be moved so as to see better in any direction? Does the fish wink? 

 Has it any eyelids? Do you know why fish are near-sighted? 



14. Can you see the nostrils? Is there a little wartlike projection 

 connected with the nostril? Do you think fishes breathe through their 

 nostrils? 



15. Describe the mouth of the fish. Does it open upward, down- 

 ward, or directly in front? What sort of teeth have fish? How does the 

 fish catch its prey? Does the lower or upper jaw move in the process of 

 eating? 



16. Is the mouth kept always in motion? Do you think the fish is 

 swallowing water all the time ? Do you know why it does this? Can you 

 see a wide opening along the sides of the head behind the gill cover? 

 Does the gill cover move with the movement of the mouth? How does a 

 fish breathe? 



17. What are the colors of the goldfish above and below? What 

 would happen to our beautiful goldfish if they were put in a brook with 

 other fish? Why could they not hide? Do you know what happens to 

 the colors of the goldfish when they run wild in our streams and ponds? 



18. Can you find in books or cyclopedias where the goldfish came 

 from? Are they gold and silver in color in the streams where they are 

 native? Do you think that they had originally the long, slender, swallow 

 tails which we see sometimes in goldfish? How have the beautiful colors 

 and graceful forms of the gold and silver fishes been developed ? 



"I have myworld, and so have you. Off to your globe's most distant rim, 



A tiny universe for two, Where, greatened by the watery lens, 



A bubble by the artist blown, Methinks no dragon of the fens 



Scarcely more fragile than our own. Flashed huger scales against the sky, 



Where you have all a whale could wish. Roused by Sir Bevis or Sir Guy; 



Happy as Eden's primal fish. And the one eye that meets my view. 



Manna is dropt you thrice a day Lidless and strangely largening, too. 



From some kind heaven not far away. Like that of conscience in the dark. 



And still you snatch its softening crti-mbs. Seems to make me its single mark. 



Nor, more than we, think whence it comes. What a benignant lot is yours 



No toil seems yours but to explore That have an own All-out-of-doors, 



Your cloistered realm from shore to shore; No words to spell, no sutns to do. 



Sometimes you trace its limits round, No Nepos and no parlyvoo! 



Sometimes its limpid depths you sound. How happy you, without a thought 



Or hover motionless midway. Of such cross things as Must and Ought — 



Like gold-red clouds at set of day; I too the happiest of boys 



Erelong you whirl with sudden whim To see and share your golden joys!" 



— "The Oracle of the Goldfishes," Lowell. 



