FROG-FISHES. 181 



habitual place is on the muddy or sandy bottom, 

 on which its flattened form lies close. While 

 lying thus, it stirs up, by the action of its pec- 

 torals and ventrals, the mud around, and thus 

 renders the water turbid. Under the conceal- 

 ment thus formed, it moves hither and thither 

 its coronal filaments, and especially that one which 

 bears a little silvery flag ; which, glimmering ' 

 through the cloudy water, attracts other passing 

 fishes towards it, actuated either by curiosity or 

 appetite. The upturned eyes of the Angler mark 

 the success of his strategic art, and a sudden lift- 

 ing of his capacious mouth engulfs the unsuspect- 

 ing victims. 



The voracity of this fish is very great ; in fact 

 it seems to be composed of little else than mouth 

 and stomach. Montagu says of one, that when 

 suspended by the head, the contents of the stomach 

 were readily seen, viz., by looking into the mouth 

 and down the throat. The same naturalist re- 

 marks, that when the Angler finds itself a captive 

 in the fishermen's nets, its appetite is by no 

 means aff"ected by its misfortune ; for it proceeds 

 immediately to devour its companions in cap- 

 tivity. Fishes thus swallowed are not infre- 

 quently taken from its stomach still alive, espe- 

 cially those which are tenacious of life, such as 

 the flat-fishes. Its own flesh is not held in suffi- 

 cient estimation to make it any prize on its own 

 account, but the frequency with which other 

 fishes, more valuable than itself, are found un- 

 injured within its stomach, renders its capture 

 not without value. 



An example of its voracity has already been 

 quoted in the earlier pages of this volume ; and 



