No. 5 (1921) 



MADRAS AQUARIUM 



requisite for swimming; indeed it is notably slow-moving and 

 lethargic, hence this monstrous development must have some 

 other reason. Besides a great lengthening of the bony rays that 

 support the fins, the membrane between them has been increased 

 so greatly that the fins have come to simulate the frills and fur- 

 belows so common in ladies' dress in the Victorian age. And the 

 fish is beribboned as well, for many of the fin rays are prolonged 

 beyond the main frilling of the fins, while leafy outgrowths sprout 

 from the lower border of the face. As the body colouring of shades 

 of brownish red on a whitish ground is continued upon the fins 





-;■■.■••;■■•■■... -■ '■Vki/".'- 



v., -wioH-';-, ^:-v; 

 •■■■■•■ ^■«:*:^:n'.v,. "iiz. 



^ /I V/ /ifi / i M.,f .■■••-X-"" •/ 





Fig. 13. — Russell's Scorpion-fish {Pierois riissclli). X § 



to the end of the uttermost fluttering ray-ribbon, the tout ensemble 

 is peculiarly arresting. The fish's movements too are those of the 

 mannequin on show; when it swims, it sails along very slowly 

 and gracefully with a just perceptible fluttering of the great 

 butterfly-like fins ; it often halts for quite a considerable time as 

 though asking for admiration and at times will even slowly rotate 

 that one may view it from all points. 



When in its favourite stationary attitude, its fins gently quiver- 

 ing, it has much the appearance of a stone decked with fluttering 



