432 



A HISTORY OF FISHES 



high ground on shore, whose duty it is to detect the presence of 

 a shoal of CichHds and to direct the movements of those in the 

 boats, who proceed at once to the point indicated and surround 

 the fish with a net. The bottom of the lake is said to be covered 

 with large stones, and it is frequently necessary for one or more 

 of the fishermen to leap overboard to free the net and to 

 prevent it from breaking. 



It is of interest to note that the habit of these Cichlids of 



congregating in shoals at the 

 surface leaves them open to 

 the attacks of the myriads of 

 Crested Grebes that abound in 

 this region. Where the fish are 

 too large to be seized whole, 

 the birds are in the habit of 

 snatching at the most tasty 

 morsel, the eyes, lifting out the 

 eyeballs and the infra-orbital 

 partition with a single stroke 

 of their long, sharp beaks. This 

 does not always cause the death 

 of the victim, and many mem- 

 bers of the shoals may be ob- 

 served to be flourishing in a 

 condition of absolute blindness. 

 Of the species of Tilapia found 

 in the Lake of Galilee, one is 

 characterised by the presence 

 CRUCIFIX-FISH." °^ ^ d2ivk spot on each side of 



Upper Ind lower view of skull of Sea the body, and this is locally 

 C^t-fish{Ariiis proops),x\. reputed to represent the mark 



of St. Peter's thumb, made 

 when he took a piece of money from the fish's mouth. 

 The Cichlid competes for the honour of bearing this mark 

 with the John Dory {Z^us) , which likewise has a round black 

 spot on the side. This fish is known in Germany as the 

 "Peterfisch," and our own name, John Dory, is believed to 

 be the equivalent of the Italian "Janitore," meaning a 

 doorkeeper. 



Travellers in South America and the West Indies often return 

 with tales of the so-called "Crucifix-fish," which is said to be 

 held in great esteem and even veneration by the natives of these 

 parts, who look upon it as a kind of fetish or charm against 



