606 ANNUAL EEPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1908. 



In a state of nature the Pterophrynes are undoubtedly less liable to 

 come into conflict with their fellows and each one has its special lurk- 

 ing place. Most of the Pterophryne's life is spent in quiescence or a 

 state of rest. Those in the aquarium at Woods Hole " maintained an 

 attitude of repose that was seldom broken." One generally attaches 

 itself to a sargassum frond and often actually holds on with down- 

 bent and armlike pectoral members at various angles. The most 

 notable of these attitudes is a horizontal position over a sargassum 

 frond with the pectoral limbs stretched downward like a regular arm 

 bent backward, the long wrist simulating the arm and the fin the 

 forearm, while the elbow is mimicked by the joint between the wrist 

 and fin ; the fin acts as a hand applied to the sargassum. 



The Pterophryne, like all of its relatives, is a highly carnivorous 

 fish, and it is not fastidious in its appetite. Doubtless almost any of 

 the inhabitants of the meadow of suitable size is a welcome incomer. 

 A single Pterophryne, whose stomach contents were examined by 

 Mobius (1894), was found to have taken in four fishes, one of which, 

 a pipe fish {Sy7ignathus or Siphostoma pelagicum) over 5 inches (135 

 mm.) long, was coiled in the stomach, a small cuttle fish {Onyclim 

 curta)^ and a small portunid crab {Neptunus) ; all these were still in 

 a recognizable condition. This may give a faint idea d¥ the range of 

 food supply. Those confined in the aquarium at Woods Hole were 

 given minnows, and fed upon such entirely unfamiliar fishes with the 

 same avidity as upon those they had been accustomed to in their na- 

 tive waters. 



If careless or unlucky animals approach too near a Pterophryne, 

 the quiescent but hungry fish is stirred instantaneously into vigorous 

 action. It leaps upon its prey as quickly as a tiger would upon its 

 own. But it by no means alwaj^s awaits for the approach of a victim. 

 According to Smith, one may " stealthily approach and when suffi- 

 ciently close to an animal, literally pounce upon it." Another was 

 observed by Gudger to draw near a destined victim, " first with closed 

 mouth," and at last, when within striking distance, suddenly pro- 

 trude its jaws and, with open mouth, " take in its prey with an in- 

 stantaneous gulp." Sometimes, however, the desired prey becomes 

 alarmed and dodges just in time and swims away; the Pterophryne, 

 his appetite now whetted, swims after and, notwithstanding his ap- 

 parent sluggishness, frequently overtakes and captures the fleeing 

 fish." 



Unlike the common angler, the Pterophryne readily accommodates 

 itself to life in an aquarium without loss of appetite. The aquarium 



°- The hunting down of the small fishes was observed by Professor Gudger, 

 who has informed me that the Pterophryne, in the globe in which it was con- 

 fined, was almost sure to capture the victim in a very few rounds in the 

 aquarium. Whether it is equally persistent iu the open sea may be doubted. 



