398 Bass, Pike, and Perch 



crawls along on their belly a-gobblin' hup the 

 periwinkles and fiddlers, and crounches 'em 

 vith a set of teeth like a pair o' mill-stones." 



" Yes," I assented, " the rays are curious 

 creatures, and have very remarkable teeth." 



" Now, on the bother 'and, sir, look at the 

 moonfish. They is all length and draft and 

 no beam, like the 'ind weel of a vaggon ; it 

 couldn't cast a shadder if it was facin' the sun. 

 And the angel-fish 'aven't much more beam to 

 swear by. Now, sir, hall these slimjims 'ave 

 small mouths and pinchers for teeth, and goes 

 a-nosin' 'round the rocks, and a-vorkin' of their- 

 selves thro' the narrow crannies, and a-pinchin' 

 ho£f the coral-bugs and sea-lice. Now, sir, a 

 flounder is wicey wersy from a moonfish, it 

 'asn't hany draft, and don't carry any sail to 

 speak of, and so it 'ides in the sand a-waitin' 

 for sumpthin' to turn hup in the vay o' grub." 



" That's true," I would say, " they lead a very 

 lazy, humdrum life, and don't hustle much for 

 a living." 



" But for a real racin' yacht," he would con- 

 tinue, "give me the kingfish, or Spanish mackerel, 

 or boneeto; they ketches their food on the run 

 and jump; and speakin' o' jumpin', sir, look at 



