SOME RARE OR UNCOMMON FISHES 279 



Cape. Curiously enough, while said to be not uncommon 

 on the Pacific side of America, it is regarded as wanting 

 from the Atlantic seaboard of that Continent. 



The angler may at once be recognised by the rod-like 

 modification of a ray of the front dorsal fin which surmounts 

 its immense flattened head. The latter, as also the wide, 

 gaping mouth, is fringed with tentacles. The dorsal fin has 

 other prominent rays, but none with the forked " bait " 

 that is carried by the first. 



The body tapers somewhat abruptly to an insignificant- 

 looking tail, and the skin has no scales. The pectoral fins 

 are developed in a remarkable manner, so as to serve in a 

 measure as feet, much as those of the gurnards may be 

 regarded as answering the purpose of hands. The angler 

 does not use them when routing for food, for this is not its 

 mode of feeding, but it walks on the sea bed and steadies 

 itself in strong currents or rough weather. It is a very poor 

 swimmer, having neglected that art since its earlier and more 

 active days and developed other talents. It lies motionless 

 in the weeds, waving its bait and suddenly opening its mouth 

 whenever any fish approaches sufficiently close to be carried 

 in by the inrush of water. Even large skate and conger are 

 engulphed in this way. The " bait " has been described by 

 Day and others as " glistening " ; but it must, if this be the 

 case, lose its glamour with life, for the writer has examined 

 several, fresh from the trawl, without finding any sign of 

 glitter, even when the flag-like extremity was moistened 

 again. 



The teeth of the angler point easily backwards, towards 

 the throat, but will not bend outwards. They lie in two 

 rows in the jaws, and there are a {^yi on the vomer, but 

 none on the tongue. The lower jaw is slightly the longer. 

 The eye is small, and is surmounted by sharp spines. There 

 is a single gill-opening on either side with a kind of pouch, 

 in which earlier writers said that the young find shelter when 



