THE FISHING-FROG. 255 



length. Its color is rather dull orange above, with bluish reflections, and white below. The 

 fins are of a rather deep orange hue. 



ANOTHER small family now comes before us, called the Frog-fishes, from the froggish 

 aspect of the body, and especially of the head. . 



The TOAD-FISH is a very curious-looking creature, with its flattened and wide head, 

 gaping mouth, and spacious gill-cover. All the members of this genus are carnivorous fishes, 

 and are spread through the coasts of the tropical regions, where they are mostly found on the 

 bottom and partially buried in the sand or mud, in hope of surprising the active prey on which 

 they feed. Some species, however, are found even in the temperate seas. 



The Toad-fish inhabits the East Indian seas, and has been taken at the mouth of the 

 Ganges. Its color is brown, marked with a much darker tint, and the fins are streaked and 

 blotched with similar colors. The body is without scales. 



MONTAGUE'S SUCKER. Liparis montagui. 



The Toad-fishes, family BatracMdce, are included, twelve species in five genera. They 

 are carnivorous coast fishes, mostly of the warmer seas. The young of some fasten themselves 

 upon rocks by means of ventral discs, which, however, disappear. Common names of them 

 are Oyster-fish and Sarpo. 



THE FISHING-FROG, ANGLER-FISH, or WIDE-GAB, which is shown in the lower figure of 

 the illustration on page 242, has long been famous for the habit from which it has derived its 

 popular name. 



The first dorsal fin is almost wholly wanting, its place being occupied merely by three 

 spines, movable by means of certain muscles. The manner in which these spines are connected 

 with the body is truly marvellous. The first, which is furnished at its tip with a loose shining 

 slip of membrane, is developed at its base into a ring, through which passes a staple of bone 

 that proceeds from the head. The reader may obtain a very perfect idea of this beautiful 

 piece of mechanism by taking a common iron skewer, slipping a staple through its ring and 

 driving the staple into a board. It will then be seen that the skewer is capable of free motion 

 in every direction. 



The second spine is arranged after a somewhat similar fashion, but is only capable of 

 being moved backwards and forwards. Fishing-Frogs are somtimes found in the shops, and 

 the inquiring reader will find himself amply repaid if he purchases one of these fishes and 



