RECENT FISHES 



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CORRIDOR OF CENTRAL PAVILION 

 Recent Fishes 



The exhibit of fishes occupies the center of the north end of the hall 

 of the birds of the world and the corridor beyond the door leadino- to 

 the gallery of the Auditorium. 



The exhibit includes tj^jical examples of the various groups of back- 

 boned animals popularly comprised in the term "fishes," and is arranged 

 in progressive order. The visitor should first examine the case of hag- 

 fishes and lampreys facing the large window, near the end of the corri- 

 dor. These rank among the most primitive "fishes." They are -n-ith- 



Hag-fishes 



and 



Lampreys 



A PORTION OF THE PADDLEFI3H GROUP 



out scales, without true teeth, without paired limbs, and their backl)one 

 consists of but a rod of cartilage. One of the models shows the way 

 in which a newly caught hag-fish secretes slime, forming 

 around it a great mass of jelly. In the same case are 

 lampreys, and one of them is represented attached to a 

 fish, which it fatally wounds. The nest-building hal)it 

 of lampreys is illustrated in a neighboring floor case: here the spawners 

 are preparing a pit-like nest and carrying away stones, which they seize 

 with their sucker-like mouths. 



The visitor should nex-t inspect the cases of sharks which are situ- 

 ated on the south side of the corridor. These include various forms of 

 sharks and rays, selected as typical mem])ers of this 

 ancient group — for the sharks have numerous characters 

 wkich put them in the ancestral line of all the other groups of fishes. 



Sharks 



