. Animal studies. ADAPTATIONS 299. Even the fishes have many modes of self-defense through giving pain or injury to those who would swallow them. The cat-fishes or horned pouts when attacked set immov- ably the sharp spine of the pectoral fin, inflicting a jagged wound. Pelicans who have swallowed a cat- fish have been known to die of the wounds inflicted by the fish's spine. In the group of scorpion- fishes and toad-fishes are certain genera in which these spines are provided with poison glands. These may inflict very severe wounds to other fishes, or even to birds or man. One of this group o
. Animal studies. ADAPTATIONS 299. Even the fishes have many modes of self-defense through giving pain or injury to those who would swallow them. The cat-fishes or horned pouts when attacked set immov- ably the sharp spine of the pectoral fin, inflicting a jagged wound. Pelicans who have swallowed a cat- fish have been known to die of the wounds inflicted by the fish's spine. In the group of scorpion- fishes and toad-fishes are certain genera in which these spines are provided with poison glands. These may inflict very severe wounds to other fishes, or even to birds or man. One of this group of poison-fishes is the noki {Emmydrich- thys, Fig. 167). A group of small fresh- water cat-fishes, known as the mad toms (Fig. 168), have also a poison gland attached to the pectoral spine, and its sting is most exasperating, like the sting of a wasp. The sting-rays (Fig. 169) of many species have a strong, jagged spine on the tail, covered with slime, and armed with broad saw-like teeth. This inflicts a dangerous wound, not through the presence of specific venom, but from the dan- ger of blood poisoning arising from the slime, and the ragged or unclean cut. Many fishes are defended by a coat of mail or a coat of sharp thorns. The globe-fishes and porcupine-fishes (Fig. 170) are for the most part defended by spines, but their instinct to swallow air gives them an additional safeguard. When one of these fishes is disturbed it rises to the surface,. 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; Kellogg, Vernon L. [from old catalog].
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