356 1 N A G U A 



and these were chased and engraved in the most unusual pat- 

 terns, reminding one of the etchings of snowflakes, or of some 

 of the mineral crystals which have a radiating design, or better 

 yet, of a cartoonist's idea of an exploding bomb, dozens of lines 

 issuing forth from a common center. These plates were fur- 

 ther studded with grotesque short spines which gave the face 

 a lean angular appearance. But most peculiar this medieval 

 armored physiognomy, which was coming head on, appeared 

 to have no body and was walking on a series of six spidery legs. 

 The legs appeared jointless and flexible and were being ad- 

 vanced one after the other in the most dainty yet consecutive 

 precision. The rays of the lamp cast further incongruous 

 shadows over the creature, gnome, troll or whatever it was, 

 and accentuated the already weird features. It was not until 

 it had advanced to my finger tips and turned partly around 

 that I recognized its true character— a sea robin belonging to 

 the genus Frionotus. 



Walking fish are always of sufficient rarity to be interesting. 

 This one had mastered the art to a fine degree. It made no at- 

 tempt to swim and held its broad, spotted wing-like pectoral 

 fins stiffly out at right angles to its body. These were of large 

 size and seemed all out of proportion to the owner. The crea- 

 ture's curiosity was overpowering. It tiptoed up to the lens 

 of the light and stood staring at the illumination. Unlike the 

 anchovies nearer the surface, however, the light did not seem 

 to excite it in the slightest degree. When it finished its examina- 

 tion it backed away, reminding me of a ballet dancer, and then 

 came over to the rope which was curled like a long serpent in 

 the sand. It walked back and forth over this and then stepped 

 over to my hand which was partly buried in the sand. When it 

 had walked completely around the periphery it topped its per- 

 formance by stepping across my bare flesh. The pectoral rays 

 tickled as they went across and the ends felt sharp. When it 



