336 SEASIDE DIVINITY. 



independently of each other, and this, along with 

 the brilliant iridescence about the head and its 

 blue bands, gives it a considerable resemblance to 

 the chameleon. Among the most remarkable 

 fishes which can attract our attention is the 

 Fishing-frog, or Angler (Lopkius Piscatorius), a 

 creature whose structure and instincts are very 

 marvellous. This fish is frequently taken three 

 or four feet in length, and is said occasionally to 

 be found of the dimensions of seven, and even 

 ten feet in length. Its head is flat, and of enor- 

 mous breadth and size, its surface exceeding that 

 of all the rest of the fish, and the mouth is pro- 

 digious, and armed with numerous teeth. But 

 the most singular part of the animal's structure 

 are three tentacula, which arise from the head. 

 Two of these filaments arise from above the 

 upper lip, and the third from the back of the 

 head. The first of these, on the upper lip, is 

 nearly half the length of the fish's body ; at its 

 base it is accommodated with a joint, which 

 admits of its motion in every direction, and at the 

 extremity it is surmounted by a little membrane 

 of a brilliant metallic lustre. This filament con- 

 stitutes the rod, line, and bait, by which the 

 fishing-frog entices its prey. It swims with dif- 

 ficulty, and instead of pursuing its prey it has 

 recourse to a degree of craft rivalling that of 

 a disciple of Walton himself. Crouching close to 

 the ground, it stirs up the sand and mud with its 

 fins, and thus concealed from the sight of its 

 victims, it elevates its fishing-rod and bait, moving 



