SQUAMIPINNES. 



599 



in the East Indian Archipelago as in Polynesia, like many 

 others of its congeners. 



Chelmo differs from Chaiodoii only in having the snout 

 produced into a more or less long tube. 



Only fonr species are known, locally distributed in the 

 tropical seas. Ch. rostratus, the oldest species known, is 



Fig. 168. — Clielmo margiiiali.s, from the coast of Australia. 



said to have the instinct of throwing a drop of water from 

 its bill so as to light upon any insect resting on a leaf, 

 and thus make it fall, that it may instantly dart upon it. 

 This statement is erroneous, and probably rests upon the 

 mistaken notion that the long bill is especially adapted for 

 this manoeuvre, which, indeed, is practised by another fish 

 of this family {Toxotcs). The long slender bill of Chelmo 

 (which is a true saltwater fish) rather enables it to draw from 

 holes and crevices animals which otherwise could not be 

 reached by it. 



Heniochus. — One dorsal, with from eleven to thirteen spines, 

 the fourth of which is more or less elongate and filiform. Snout 



