FlSHlNCi FKOCi. 



269 



ACAN'lUOFTEBYGIl. 



PECTORAL FINS FEET-LIKE. 





THE FISHING FROG. ANGLER. 



SEA DKvii,. WIDE GAB. Scotland. 



L(yphius piscutorius, Linnai'S. Bloch, pt. iii. pi. 87. 

 ,, ,, CuviEK, Kegne An. t. ii. p. 251. 



,, ,, Contmon Angler, Plnn. Brit. Zool. vol. iii. p. 159, pi. 21. 



Don. Brit. Fish. pi. 101. 

 ,, ,, Angler, Flem. Brit. An. p. 214, sp. 147. 



Generic Characters. — Head very large, depressed ; body slender, smooth, 

 without scales : two dorsal fins separated ; pectoral fins broad and thick, some- 

 what resembling feet ; ventral fins small, placed considerably before the pec- 

 torals : teeth differing in size, numerous, conical, sharp, curving backwards ; 

 tongue broad ; branchial cavities large, with only a small opening behind the 

 pectoral fins ; branchiostegous rays 6. 



The Akglek, as this fisli is culled for reasons that 

 will be given hereafter, belongs to a small and singular 

 group of fishes, which Guvier has designated Peclorales 

 Pedtculees, from tlie peculiar conformation of the pectoral 

 fins, by which sonic of the species can creep on land almost 

 like little quadrupeds. The ventral fins, palmate in form, 

 are placed very far forward on the body ; and the pectorals, 

 from their position, perform the office of hinder feet. 8ome 



