. Fishes. Fishes. CHAPTER V ADAPTATIONS OF FISHES PINES of the Catfishes.—The catfishes or homed pouts {SiluridcB) have a strong spine in the pectoral fin, one or both edges of this being jagged or serrated. This spine fits into a peculiar joint and by means of a slight downward or forward twist can be set immovably. It can then be broken more easily than it can be depressed. A slight turn in the opposite direction releases the joint, a fact known to the fish and readily learned by the boy. The sharp spine inflicts a jagged Fig. 35 —Mad-tom, Schilbeodes furtosun Jordan and Meek. Showin
. Fishes. Fishes. CHAPTER V ADAPTATIONS OF FISHES PINES of the Catfishes.—The catfishes or homed pouts {SiluridcB) have a strong spine in the pectoral fin, one or both edges of this being jagged or serrated. This spine fits into a peculiar joint and by means of a slight downward or forward twist can be set immovably. It can then be broken more easily than it can be depressed. A slight turn in the opposite direction releases the joint, a fact known to the fish and readily learned by the boy. The sharp spine inflicts a jagged Fig. 35 —Mad-tom, Schilbeodes furtosun Jordan and Meek. Showing the poisoned pectoral spine. Family Siluridm. Neuse River. Pelicans which have swallowed the catfish have been known to die of the wounds inflicted by the fish's spine. When the catfish was first introduced into the Sacramento, according to Mr. Will S. Green, it caused the .death of many of the native "Sacra- mento perch" (Archoplites interruptus). This perch (or rather bass) fed on the yoting catfish, and the latter erecting their pectoral spines in turn caused the death of the perch by tear- ing the walls of its stomach. In like manner the sharp dorsal and ventral spines of the sticklebacks have been known to cause the death of fishes who swallow them, and even of ducks. In Puget Sound the stickleback is often known as salmon-killer. 5T. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Jordan, David Starr, 1851-1931. New York, H. Holt and Company
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