The Biology of Fishes: New Introduction by Dr Vijay Dev Singh

The biology of fishes by Harry M Kyle is similarly both full of facts about the mysterious life of fishes and contains details of their biology as well. Unlike the present day publications on fishes which merely record facts and figures, reading this books is like discovering an old gold casket left burned in the depths of the ocean for half a century. The book deals with fishes in a much wider environmental context and introduces us to each new facet in the life cycle of fishes with such ease that even a layman would enjoy exploring the world of fishes. The author has described the various inter-linkages which must be kept in mind while undertaking any study of a living creature. The style of facts in the book remain as interesting and relevant today as before, giving credence to the belief that a good book is one which withstands the test of time. All students and scientists of fisheries would enjoy and be greatly benefited and enriched in their field of study by reading this very interesting and well written book.

Contents: 1. The General Characters of Fishes; Origin and Nature of a Fish, Form and Movements of Fishes, Skin and Coloration of Fishes, Size and Age of Fishes, Organisation. 2. The Habits of Fishes in General; Haunts of Fishes, Wanderings of Fishes, Feeding Habits, Breeding Habits. 3. Migration of Fishes; Tunny, Herring, Anchovy, Salmon, Eel, Causes of Migration. 4. The Development of Fishes; Egg of Fishes, Embryos, Larva and Postlarva, Origin of Ossified Structures. 5. Regulation of the Form and Structures; The Influence of Balance and Movement on the Formation of Structure, Causes of Change in the Balance, Formation of the Head, Transformations. 6. Ecology of the Body Part I: Production and Transport of Energy; Digestive System, Circulation and Respiration, Excretory System. 7. Economy of the Body Part II: Utilisation and Emission of Energy; Regulating System, Muscular System and Electric Organs, Mucus Glands and Radiant Energy, Sensory Nervous System, Eyes of Fishes, Sense of Colour, Central Nervous System. 8. Variation and Differentiation of Fishes; Nature of Variation, Heredity and Circumstances, Causes of Variation, Differentiation of Fishes, Chapter 9: The Genealogy of Fishes; The Oldest Fishes, Arrangement of Fishes, The Drifting of the Continents. 10. Distribution of Fishes in Time and Space; Ancient Periods: Land and Water in Palaezoic and Mesozoic, Modern Periods, Appearance of Modern Forms in Chalk Period, Effect of Tertiary Disturbances, Post-Glacial Distribution. 11. Adaptations to Suit Particular Conditions; Growth of Adaptations, Adaptations Connected with the Mode of Life, Adaptations Connected with the Respiration. 12. Fishes and the Web of Life; Sex, Courtship and Reproduction, Commensalists and Parasites, Diseases and Enemies of Fishes. 13. The Food Question; The Food of Fishes, The Valuation of the Sea, Resources of the Sea, Ch..