220 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 
found off Japan, in which the 
scales have , joined together 
to form a perfectly solid 
armour, whilst the paired fins 
of the abdomen have been 
reduced to a single spine, with 
a few vestiges of other rays. 
The next family, a com- 
paratively small one, includes 
the Tassel-fish, so called from 
the long and delicate feelers 
springing from the base of 
the breast-fins, of which they 
originally formed a part. Vary- 
ing in number from three to 
fourteen, these feelers can be 
moved independently of the fins. As these fishes all live in muddy water, and have the eyes 
obscuied by films, such tactile organs are necessary, in order to enable them to procure their 
food. In some species they attain an enormous length. The flesh is highly esteemed. Some 
species have an air-bladder, which yields a good kind of isinglass, and forms an article of com- 
merce in the East Indies. The majority are small species, but some attain to a length of 4 feet. 
No less important than the preceding group, from an economic point of view, are the 
MeagRES, a family of coast-haunting species of the tropical and sub-tropical Atlantic and 
Indian Oceans, exhibiting a special preference for the mouths of large rivers, into which they 
freely enter. Some, indeed, have become entirely fresh-water species. 
One of the most interesting of the family is the species to which the name of Drum has 
been given, from the extraordinary noise which it produces — though some other kinds emit 
similar noises. “ These sounds,” Dr. Gunther writes, “ can better be expressed by the word 
‘ drumming’ than any other. They appear to be very frequently heard by persons in vessels 
lying at anchor of: the coasts of the United States, where these fishes are very common. The 
precise method by which these sounds are produced is not known. Since they are accompanied 
by a tremulous motion of the vessel, it seems more probable that they are due to the beating 
of the tails of the fish against the bottom of the ship to get rid of the parasites with which 
that part of their body is infested.” The drum attains a length of more than 4 feet and a 
weight of over lOO lbs. 
Though forming but a single small family, the SwORD-FiSHES are nevertheless to be 
reckoned amongst the most 
interesting ®f living tishes. 
Attaining a length of from 
12 to 15 feet, exceeding 
vigilant, pugnacious, and 
powerful, they are amongst 
the most formidable of all 
fishes. They derive their 
name from the great develop- 
ment of the upper jaw, which 
forms a huge, tapering, sword- 
like weapon, covered along 
its under-surface with numer- 
ous small teeth. They attack, & son 
apparently without provoca- RAGGED SEA-SCORPION 
tion, whales and other large acand representati've of the scorpion-fishes 
