HORNED OSTRACION. 149 



stances the accommodation or keeping, as it were, 

 of the colours of the skin to the materials of rock 

 or sand by which the animal is surrounded, harmo- 

 nises, and is unconspicuous to the fishes which look 

 for prey among their own tribes ; at other times the 

 colours are so vivid and brilliant, or the exterior is 

 marked with spots of silver and gold, which may 

 act as an attraction to lure some of the weaker 

 species within reach of predatory fishes ; at least, 

 the vivid colours in the plumage of several birds 

 have been hinted at as being attractions for the 

 various insects, which afford food for many ; and if 

 such be the case, it is more than probable that the 

 inhabitants of the deep may be coloured, as many 

 of them are, for a similar purpose. We may per- 

 haps add to these the defence which the most 

 singular and grotesque figures of some species would 

 afford, by inspiring terror or disgust ; and we give 

 the figure of a curious little fish, which will both 

 show an extraordinary form, and a considerable 

 array of spined or knobbed projections. It is the 



