178 ACANTHOPTERYGII. LOPHIADiE. 



were feeding on the worms and small fish. Vast 

 numbers of little amphibious creatures were run- 

 ning about in the mud, and they appeared to be 

 sought after by some of the larger birds. They 

 were from two to eight inches long, resembling 

 a fish in shape, of a light brown colour, and could 

 run and jump by means of two strong pectoral 

 fins. On the approach of an enemy, they buried 

 themselves in the mud with inconceivable rapidity, 

 so that their sudden diasppearance seemed to be 

 the work of magic. One of the Malays was em- 

 ployed in catching them, as they are considered 

 to be a great delicacy. He used for the purpose 

 a thin plank, four feet long, and one foot broad ; 

 on one end of which were fixed several sharp- 

 pointed nails, the points projecting beyond the 

 end of the plank. He placed the plank flat upon 

 the mud, and with the right knee resting on it, 

 and kicking the mud with the left foot, he shot 

 along the surface with great rapidity, the sharp- 

 pointed nails transfixing the little creatures before 

 they could succeed in burying themselves suffi- 

 ciently deep to avoid it. This is a dangerous 

 sport, and requires great skill in the fisherman 

 to prevent accidents ; for should he lose his 

 plank, death would be almost inevitable, the 

 mud not having sufficient consistence to sup- 

 ]3ort him without the aid of this simple contri- 

 vance."* 



About forty species, contained in four genera, 

 compose this Family: they are all marine, and 

 are found in both hemispheres, principally in the 

 intertropical seas. A few inhabit the Mediter- 

 ranean, and one is by no means uncommon around 

 * Eastern Seas, p. 213. 



