180 ACANTHOPTERYGII. — LOPHIAD.E. 



they have very little in the cross direction. The 

 one near the lip, however, can be moved with nearly 

 the same ease and rapidity in every direction ; 

 and while the others terminate in points, it carries 

 a little membrane, or flag, of brilliant metallic 

 lustre, which the fish is understood to use as a 



FISHING FROG. 



means of alluring its prey ; and the position of 

 the flag, the eyes, and the mouth certainly would 

 answer well for such a purpose."* 



The fact that the fish does use these long fila- 

 ments as baits to attract the fishes which are to 

 become its prey, seems to be indubitable, and has 

 been known ever since the days of Aristotle. At 

 that early period the instinctive stratagem had 

 secured for it the name of Fisher, and the terms 

 Fishing Frog, and Angler, by which it is known 

 with us, commemorate the popular opinion of its 

 powers. The absence of an air-bladder compels 

 the LopJiius to be a ground feeder, nor does it 

 seem able to float freely at any depth without 

 effort as many fishes do, or to do more than rise 

 to the surface by the impulse of its fins, sinking 

 as soon as the muscular effort is intermitted. Its 



* Mudie, in Cuvier's Animal Kingdom, (London, 1840) p. 308. 



