The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-09-15

migratory forms. The extinct fishes OF
vertebrate than the corresponding mod
| ern forms which are considered as their
I descendants To each Of these gener-
alIzatious there are occasional partial
exceptions. but not such as 10 invali-
date the rule. All these effects should
| be referable TO the same group OF
causes They SAY, in fact, be COM
| bined in one statement All other
! fishes have n larger number Of verte-
! orss than the marine fishes of the
tropics. The cause of the reduc-
ton in the number of vertebrate
must, therefore, be sought In condi-
tions peculiar To the tropical seas. II
the retention OF the primitive large
number - In any case a phase of de-
generation, the cause of such oegener-
alton must be sought in the colder seas,
IN the rivers and in oceanic abvSSeS-
What have these waters in common
that the coral reefs. rocky islands and
tide pools of the tropics have not? In
this connection we are 10 remember
that the fewer vertebrate indicates gem
orally the higher rank. When verte-
brae are few in number. a. rule each
one is larger. Its structure is more
complicated its APPENDICES are larger
and more useful. and the fms with
which il is connected are better devel-
oped In other words, the tropical FISH
Is more intensely and compactlr q fish.
especially for that Of fish that stays
ct home In nv view. the reduction
In number and increase of inn
pOrtance OF the individual yerte-
brae are simply part of this work of
making a better fish. Not better
fish for mans purpoSe-for Nature does
not care straw for mans purpose
but better fish fer the purposes OF
tsh. The competition in the struggle
for existence is the essential cause OK
the change. In the center of competition
no species can afford 20 be handicapped
by a weak back bone and a redundant
vertebrate. Those who are thus weight
ed down can not hold their own. They
must change or perish
The influence of cold. darkness. mo-
notony and isolation is 10 limit the
struggle for existeace, and therefore
10 prevent its changes, pcrseveriug
through the conservation of heredity
the more remote ancestral conditions,
even though they carry with them dis,
advantages and deficiencies The con
ditions most favorable 20 fish life arc
among the rocks and reefs OF the trop-
zeal seas. About the coral reefs is the
center of fish competition. A coral
archipelago is the Paris Of fishes. In
such regions is the greatest variety OF
surroundings, and therefore the great
est number of possible adjustments.
The struggle is between fish and FISH,
not between fishes and hard conditions
OF life. No form is excluded from tho
competition. Cold. darkness and foul
wafer do not shut cut competitors, nor
does any evil influence sap the strength.
The heat Of the tropics docs not make
the water hot. II is never sultry nor
laden with malaria. The influence Of
tropical heat ON land animals ia often
to destroy vitality and check self-aetivi-
ty. II is not 50 in the ses. From condi
tions otherwise favorable in arctic re-
gions he ma iority Of com De titors are ex-
Guided by their ina bility 20 bear tho
cold. River life is life ia isolation. To
aquatic animals river life has the saIna
Limitations that inland life has 20 the
animals Of the land. The oceanic
islands are behind the continents IN
the process of evolution. In like man
ner the rivers are ages behind the seas.
Therefore the influences which serve
as whole 10 intensity fab life, and
tend TO rid the fish Of every character
or structure IL can not be in its busi-
ness" are most effective along the
shores of the tropics. One phase Of
this il the reduction in numbers OF
verte bre. or, more accurately. the in
crease Of stress on each individual bone