20
THE BIOLOGY OF FISHES
Whilst the origin of the colours might be thought to be
a .'Ïsuîcient explanation of their existence, many authors
haVe gone further and ascribed to them a purpose or useful_
:
nèss of great importance to their possessors, either for
“
con—
cealment, aggression, or protection.” Of recent years,
_
hoWever, a strong reaction has
this somewhat
__
_
too easy method of :interpreting the colours and Structures
.
of shes‘, indéed of all other animals as Well.
It is very
__:_“-Ï_ÏÊdoubtful if We have any‘logical right‘to ascribe
“
purpose”
’
'
:
to these*pîhenomena ; all We can say is, that in many cases
the,shes seem able t0f=maläeÿtuse of their.particular coloration
to Âthéfsurroundings. -tj ] f
“=. g_:
_
;” 4SIZE AND AGE_ OF FIËH_Es
,
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=
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The
known, a'nd probably the smallest
;;{ÿartébfàrè in the world, is a tiny Goby which lives in
Philippine Waters,“ It is only 12—14 mm. long, about %.in.,
_ahd— has a name'lïonger than itself, Mistichthyà Zuz0nensis, Blk.
other Gobi‘es; Aphÿaand Cfyst'allogobius, which live
_
in.:
little longer, the latter being
_
former 2 ins. And a number of
tropicalÎÇaräplirigs ‘(Cÿfprinbdonts), which live in tropical
the làrvæ of dangerous'mosquitoes,
_: ,
are just-gabout “the same length. Many of the brilliantly ,
_:_E_coloured sh‘es that live
the .coral€'_.irèefsÿ,ate Only
3
4:ip‘s; long.
.
:
Q, ; — =:ç=f—ç};1_:ë
:
!
Baslng-28h3rk£WhièhliVes iri Sub—
AÏCÜCWatersbutmaywandersouthmto theï'Àantic and__
‘
Pac1c Itslength1sabout4o to 45ftàrid'the moreïd—readed ‘
-:
Carcharodonof tropical
and N
Zealand,
;
_
extraordinarly
monsters —Ïare5_-the EagleëRays.ü_:Œhe VampyrdRay of the
._
j :{;{__
across the—Wings} of 20 to 25
:
ft:‘(F1g65)_ - If
judge from the size of the teeth‘,
_
"
of—th“ëî_fsharks that_lived in
days (Chalk
î‘_
__' _
.haVe been
in Comparison With Which
:
adwarf (Pl. III).
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:
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