182 ACANTPOPTERYGII. LOPHIAD^. 



Mr. Yarreirs beautiful work on British Ichthy- 

 ology contains other instances, recorded on the 

 authority of Mr. Couch, of the blind, indiscrimi- 

 nate appetite of this species. From these and 

 other facts, it would appear that the Fishing Frog 

 is in no wise delicate in his taste, and that he 

 may be characterized as a glutton rather than 

 an epicure. The amount of mischief done by such 

 a gourmand on a fishing-ground must be enor- 

 mous ; especially as it is by no means uncommon 

 to capture a dozen at once, and from their habits 

 probably few are taken compared with the num- 

 bers that are present. 



On the Scottish coast, this species is called Wide- 

 gab, and Sea-devil. It is sometimes met with 

 four, and even five feet in length. The body is 

 not marked with the diverse hues common in the 

 Family, the upper surface of the head, body, and 

 fins being of a dark brown, nearly uniform in 

 tint ; the under surface of the same parts pure 

 white. The eyes are brown, devoid of the metallic 

 brilliancy so general in fishes. 



