The tongue of fishes, however, though
it exists as a separate part, is never formed with such distinctness
as this, as has been already explained. Again, as the gustatory
sensibility is intended to serve animals in the selection of food,
it is not diffused equally over the whole surface of the tongue-like
organ, but is placed chiefly in the tip; and for this reason it is the
tip which is the only part of the tongue separated in fishes from
the rest of the mouth. As all animals are sensible to the pleasure
derivable from food, they all feel a desire for it. For the object
of desire is the pleasant. The part, however, by which food produces
the sensation is not precisely alike in all of them, but while in some
it is free from attachments, in others, where it is not required for
vocal pur, poses, it is adherent. In some again it is hard, in
others soft or flesh-like. Thus even the Crustacea, the Carabi for
instance and the like, and the Cephalopods, such as the Sepias and the
Poulps, have some such part inside the mouth. As for the Insects, some
of them have the part which serves as tongue inside the mouth, as is
the case with ants, and as is also the case with many Testacea,
while in others it is placed externally. In this latter case it
resembles a sting, and is hollow and spongy, so as to serve at one and
the same time for the tasting and for the sucking up of nutriment.
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