The Mighty Deep 



Among curiosities of Fish-existence, too many 

 to name, a few may be cited in passing. 



Flying-fishes, with their blue bodies and wing- 

 like fins of silver, are well known to voyagers. 



They rise from the water with a vigorous 

 upward spring, which will bear them to a 

 height of fifteen feet or more above the sur- 

 face ; and there they skim lightly along, with 

 apparently thorough enjoyment. Sometimes 

 thousands are seen at once, all leaping out of 

 their native element, and taking to the air for 

 a variety. 



Often they do this to escape from a pursuing 

 foe below ; but the plan is not always successful, 

 since they have other enemies above. Many 

 a flying-fish in its aerial career is snapped up 

 by a hungry gull. 



One uncouth specimen is the " Frog -fish," 

 known also as the " Fishing-frog " or " Goose- 

 fish," a flat thick rounded creature, with a 

 cocked -up tail, an enormous mouth nearly as 

 wide as its whole body, and knowing eyes. It 

 bears a certain resemblance to a frog. 



Many instances are related of fishes " imitating" 

 or " copying " to use very inadequate terms 

 different land animals. The Bat -fish, for ex- 

 ample, bears a curious likeness to a Bat. The 



242 



