The flesh of these fishes is not usually poisonous, whereas a fairly large number of other species, _which do not inflict wounds_, cause intoxicating effects when eaten. These latter do not come within the scope of this work; but the reader who may desire to obtain information with regard to them will find them well described in J. Pellegrin’s memoir,[141] in that by Dupont, and especially in the papers of A. Corre. _Venomous fishes_ almost all belong to sedentary species, as in the case of the genera _Trachinus_, _Cottus_, _Scorpæna_, and _Synanceia_. This fact suggested to Dissard and Noë[142] a very hazardous theory in order to explain the existence of a poison-apparatus in these animals. The venomous fishes being sedentary, say these authors, have no need of a poison-apparatus; their prey offers itself to them without effort on their part, and, on the other hand, they escape destruction by their enemies. If, therefore, they possess a poison-apparatus it is because the conditions under which they live entail the lowest value for the co-efficient of respiration, diminish the quantity of the ambient radiations and the oxygenation of the medium, and lead to diminished hæmatosis. For these reasons the activity of anaerobic life becomes greater, and the formation of venoms takes place. This theory, derived from the conceptions of A. Gautier with regard to the formation of toxic leucomaines, appears scarcely tenable, for it is evident that the weever, for example, erects its first dorsal spine as soon as it is seized, and that _Scorpæna_ and _Synanceia_ likewise protrude their venomous spines when conscious of danger. The poison-apparatus of these fishes is therefore of an eminently defensive character. According to Bottard, the spawning season increases the activity of the poison-glands and at the same time the toxicity of the secreted product. Several species, such as those of the genus _Cottus_ and the perch, possess no apparent secreting cells except at this period. Certain _toxicophorous_ or poisonous fishes, such as the species of _Tetrodon_, are particularly noxious at the time when their genital glands are at their maximum activity. A.--TELEOSTEI.--ACANTHOPTERYGII. 1.--=Triglidæ.= The fishes of this family are all repulsively ugly. They have an elongate and but slightly compressed body, covered with ctenoid scales, and a large head in which the suborbital bones, which are broad, unite with the præopercular so as to form an osseous plate in the malar region. The pectoral fins are large, and provided with a few detached rays, which perform the function of tactile organs; the ventral fins are situate on the breast. These fishes are extremely voracious.