Chapter I: Preface

This work treats of the fish from all the varied points of view of the different branches of the study of Ichthyology. In general all traits of the fish are discussed, those which the fish shares with other animals most briefly, those which relate to the evolution of the group and the divergence of its various classes and orders most fully. The extinct forms are restored to their place in the series and discussed along with those still extant.

In general, the writer has drawn on his own experience as an ichthyologist, and with this on all the literature of the science. Special obligations are recognized in the text. To Dr. Charles H. Gilbert, he is indebted for a critical reading of most of his proof-sheets; to Dr. Bashford Dean, for criticism of the proof-sheets of the chapters on the lower fishes; to Dr. William Emerson Ritter, for assistance in the chapters on _Protochordata_; to Dr. George Clinton Price, for revision of the chapters on lancelets and lampreys, and to Mr. George Clark, Secretary of Stanford University, for assistance of various kinds, notably in the preparation of the index. To Dr. Theodore Gill, he has been for many years constantly indebted for illuminating suggestions, and to Dr. Barton Warren Evermann, for a variety of favors. To Dr. Richard Rathbun, the writer owes the privilege of using illustrations from the "Fishes of North and Middle America" by Jordan and Evermann. The remaining plates were drawn for this work by Mary H. Wellman, Kako Morita, and Sekko Shimada. Many of the plates are original. Those copied from other authors are so indicated in the text.

No bibliography has been included in this work. A list of writers so complete as to have value to the student would make a volume of itself. The principal works and their authors are discussed in the chapter on the History of Ichthyology, and with this for the present the reader must be contented.

The writer has hoped to make a book valuable to technical students, interesting to anglers and nature lovers, and instructive to all who open its pages.

DAVID STARR JORDAN.

PALO ALTO, SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CAL.,
October, 1904.

ERRATA[1]

VOL. I

Frontispiece, for _Paramia quinqueviltata_ read _Paramia quinquevittata_
Page xiii, line 10, _for_ Filefish _read_ Tilefish
39, " 15, _for_ Science _read_ Sciences
52, lines 4 and 5, transpose hypocoracoid and hypercoracoid
115, line 24, for _Hexagramidæ_ read _Hexagrammidæ_
162, " 7, The female salmon does as much as the male in
covering the eggs.
169, last line, _for_ immmediately _read_ immediately
189, legend, _for_ Miaki _read_ Misaki
313, line 26, _for_ sand-pits _read_ sand-spits
322, " 7 and elsewhere, for Wood's Hole read Woods Hole
324, " 15, for _Roceus_ read _Roccus_
327, " next to last, for _masquinonqy_ read _masquinongy_
357, " 5, _for_ Filefish _read_ Tilefish
361, " 26, _for_ 255 feet _read_ 25 feet
368, " 26, _for_ infallibility _read_ fallibility
414, " 22, _for_ West Indies _read_ East Indies
419, " 23, _for_-99 _read_-96
420, " 28, _for_ were _read_ are
428, " 24, _for_ Geffroy, St. Hilaire _read_ Geoffroy St. Hilaire
428, " 25, _for_ William Kitchener Parker _read_ William
Kitchen Parker
462, " 32, for _Enterpneusta_ read _Enteropneusta_

CONTENTS

VOL. I.

CHAPTER I.

THE LIFE OF THE FISH (_Lepomis megalotis_).

PAGE

What is a Fish?--The Long-eared Sunfish.--Form of the Fish.--Face
of the Fish.--How the Fish Breathes.--Teeth of the Fish.--How the
Fish Sees.--Color of the Fish.--The Lateral Line.--The Fins of
the Fish.--The Skeleton of the Fish.--The Fish in Action.--The
Air-bladder.--The Brain of the Fish.--The Fish's Nest. 3

CHAPTER II.

THE EXTERIOR OF THE FISH.

Form of Body.--Measurement of the Fish.--The Scales or
Exoskeleton.--Ctenoid and Cycloid Scales.--Placoid Scales.--Bony
and Prickly Scales.--Lateral Line.--Function of the Lateral
Line.--The Fins of Fishes.--Muscles. 16

CHAPTER III.

THE DISSECTION OF THE FISH.

The Blue-green Sunfish.--The Viscera.--Organs of Nutrition.--The
Alimentary Canal.--The Spiral Valve.--Length of the Intestine. 26

CHAPTER IV.

THE SKELETON OF THE FISH.

Specialization of the Skeleton.--Homologies of Bones of
Fishes.--Parts of the Skeleton.--Names of Bones of Fishes.--Bones
of the Cranium.--Bones of the Jaws.--The Suspensorium of the
Mandible.--Membrane Bones of Head.--Branchial Bones.--The
Gill-arches.--The Pharyngeals.--The Vertebral Column.--The
Interneurals and Interhæmals.--The Pectoral Limb.--The
Shoulder-girdle.--The Posterior Limb.--Degeneration.--The Skeleton
in Primitive Fishes.--The Skeleton of Sharks.--The Archipterygium. 34

CHAPTER V.

MORPHOLOGY OF THE FINS OF FISHES.

Origin of the Fins of Fishes.--Origin of the Paired
Fins.--Development of the Paired Fins in the
Embryo.--Evidences of Palæontology.--Current Theories as
to Origin of Paired Fin.--Balfour's Theory of the Lateral
Fold.--Objections.--Objections to Gegenbaur's Theory.--Kerr's
Theory of Modified External Gills.--Uncertain Conclusions.--Forms
of the Tail in Fishes.--Homologies of the Pectoral Limb.--The
Girdle in Fishes other than Dipnoans. 62

CHAPTER VI.

THE ORGANS OF RESPIRATION.

How Fishes Breathe.--The Gill Structures.--The Air-bladder.--Origin
of the Air-bladder.--The Origin of Lungs.--The Heart of the
Fish.--The Flow of Blood. 91

CHAPTER VII.

THE NERVOUS SYSTEM.

The Nervous System.--The Brain of the Fish.--The Pineal Organ.--The
Brain of Primitive Fishes.--The Spinal Cord.--The Nerves. 109

CHAPTER VIII.

THE ORGANS OF SENSE.

The Organs of Smell.--The Organs of Sight.--The Organs of
Hearing.--Voices of Fishes.--The Sense of Taste.--The Sense of
Touch. 115

CHAPTER IX.

THE ORGANS OF REPRODUCTION.

The Germ-cells.--The Eggs of Fishes.--Protection of the
Eggs.--Sexual Modification. 124

CHAPTER X.

THE EMBRYOLOGY AND GROWTH OF FISHES.

Post-embryonic Development.--General Laws of Development.--The
Significance of Facts of Development.--The Development of the
Bony Fishes.--The Larval Development of Fishes.--Peculiar
Larval Forms.--The Development of Flounders.--Hybridism.--The
Age of Fishes.--Tenacity of Life.--Effect of Temperature
on Fishes.--Transportation of Fishes.--Reproduction of Lost
Parts.--Monstrosities among Fishes. 131

CHAPTER XI.

INSTINCTS, HABITS, AND ADAPTATIONS.

The Habits of Fishes.--Irritability of Animals.--Nerve-cells
and Fibers.--The Brain or Sensorium.--Reflex
Action.--Instinct.--Classification of Instincts.--Variability
of Instincts.--Adaptations to Environment.--Flight of
Fishes.--Quiescent Fishes.--Migratory Fishes.--Anadromous
Fishes.--Pugnacity of Fishes.--Fear and Anger in Fishes.--Calling
the Fishes.--Sounds of Fishes.--Lurking Fishes.--The Unsymmetrical
Eyes of the Flounder.--Carrying Eggs in the Mouth. 152

CHAPTER XII.

ADAPTATIONS OF FISHES.

Spines of the Catfishes.--Venomous Spines.--The Lancet of the
Surgeon-fish.--Spines of the Sting-ray.--Protection through
Poisonous Flesh of Fishes.--Electric Fishes.--Photophores or
Luminous Organs.--Photophores in the Iniomous Fishes.--Photophores
of Porichthys.--Globefishes.--Remoras.--Sucking-disks of
Clingfishes.--Lampreys and Hogfishes.--The Swordfishes.--The
Paddle-fishes.--The Sawfishes.--Peculiarities of Jaws and
Teeth.--The Angler-fishes.--Relation of Number of Vertebræ to
Temperature, and the Struggle for Existence.--Number of Vertebræ:
Soft-rayed Fishes; Spiny-rayed Fishes; Fresh-water Fishes; Pelagic
Fishes.--Variations in Fin-rays.--Relation of Numbers to Conditions
of Life.--Degeneration of Structures.--Conditions of Evolution
among Fishes. 179

CHAPTER XIII.

COLORS OF FISHES.

Pigmentation.--Protective Coloration.--Protective Markings.--Sexual
Coloration.--Nuptial Coloration.--Coral-reef Fishes.--Recognition
Marks.--Intensity of Coloration.--Fading of Pigments in
Spirits.--Variation in Pattern. 226

CHAPTER XIV.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF FISHES.

Zoogeography.--General Laws of Distribution.--Species Absent
through Barriers.--Species Absent through Failure to Maintain
Foothold.--Species Changed through Natural Selection.--Extinction
of Species.--Barriers Checking Movements of Marine
Species.--Temperature the Central Fact in Distribution.--Agency
of Ocean Currents.--Centers of Distribution.--Distribution of
Marine Fishes.--Pelagic Fishes.--Bassalian Fishes.--Littoral
Fishes.--Distribution of Littoral Fishes by Coast Lines.--Minor
Faunal Areas.--Equatorial Fishes most Specialized.--Realms of
Distribution of Fresh-water Fishes.--Northern Zone.--Equatorial
Zone.--Southern Zone.--Origin of the New Zealand Fauna. 237