126 VERTEBRATES: FISHES. 



delicate tints of flowers; tliey are indeed the gems of 

 the waters, as the Humming Birds are the gems of the 

 air. Tlie wonderful power and swift motion of some, 

 the wholesome and delicious food furnished by many, 

 and the exciting sport of their capture combine to 

 render F"ishes objects of great interest. The number 

 of known kinds is about ten thousand. 



Spine-finned Fishes. 



Spine-finned Fishes have spines in the back or dorsal 

 fin, and often in the lower fins. The Perch, Sea Bass, 

 Pondfish or Bream, Stargazers, Sculpins, Sticklebacks, 

 Porgee, Mackerel, Swordiish, and a host of others be- 

 long to this group, for it is the largest of all. 



The American Yellow Perch, of our ponds and rivers, 

 is known to every boy. The Striped Bass is caught in 

 the sea near the shore, and the largest weigh seventy- 

 five pounds each. The Pondfish or Bream is found in 

 every pond, and the round cavities which it makes for 

 its nest ma)' be seen in great numbers near the shore. 

 The Stargazers live in the sea, and ha\'e the eyes on 

 top of the head, so that thej? appear as though looking 

 at the hea\'ens. The Sculpins live in the sea, and are 

 often called Sea Robins, Sea Ravens, etc. The Stickle- 

 backs are \'ery small Pishes which inhabit both the sea 

 and streams, and are \ery acti\-e and greedy, a single 

 one having devoured se\'ent)'-fi\'e young fish in less 

 than half a da)-. They construct \-ery curious nests. 

 The ^\'eakfish and Porgee li\-e in the Atlantic Ocean, 

 and are caught for food. The ^lackerel lives in the sea, 

 and is caught on the coast of Ne\v England in immense 

 numbers. The Swordfish has the upper jaw very 



