The hand : its mechanism and vital endowments, as evincing design, and illustrating the power, wisdom, and goodness of God . scle; and the canities wherethe brancliise lie, are large; which, indeed, is partljthe reason of the lophius having so monstrous a , not only are the fins of this fish converted intofeet, but the gill-covers into pouches, capable of con-taining water sufficient for the branchiae, when the seahas retired: then the lophius, lying in the mud orthe shallow pools, watches its i)rey, and angles for it ina very curious manner. But, besides the harlequin angler, other f
The hand : its mechanism and vital endowments, as evincing design, and illustrating the power, wisdom, and goodness of God . scle; and the canities wherethe brancliise lie, are large; which, indeed, is partljthe reason of the lophius having so monstrous a , not only are the fins of this fish converted intofeet, but the gill-covers into pouches, capable of con-taining water sufficient for the branchiae, when the seahas retired: then the lophius, lying in the mud orthe shallow pools, watches its i)rey, and angles for it ina very curious manner. But, besides the harlequin angler, other fishesmove out of the water on to dry land; and evenascend trees, without being carried there by the chmbing fish (perca scandens), by meansof the spines of its gill-covers and spinous rajs of its 152 SUBSTITUTES FOR THE HAND. chap. v. fins, can climb a tree, whence Dr. Sliaw called it bythat name.* All animals protected by feathers, or shells, or scales,are endowed with an exquisite sense of touch in themouth, or in appendages belonging to it. Fishes havehanghig from their lips processes called cirri, which. ZEUS CILIAEIS. are equivalent to the feelers or tentacula of insects andCrustacea. The fishing lines of the lophius are examplesof these processes : of which frog-like fish, Pliny relates,that it will hide itself in the mud, and leaving the ex- * The spines ot the Echinus, or Sea Urchin, are moveahle ; they assist inprogression. They are directed against an advancing enemy ! Although thesespines may be effectual for their purposes, they are to be regarded as the lowestor least perfect substitutes for extremities. SUBSTITUTES FOR THE HAND. 153 tremities of its glittering filaments, like worms, exposedto view, will entice the smaller fishes to become theprey of their concealed enemy. It is surprising how varied are the means by whichfishes obtain their food. The bandouhere a bee (chelmonrostratus, of the genns Clicetodon rostratus), squirts waterat flies a
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Keywords: ., bo, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjecthand, bookyear1874
