TIIK HEAKED CH&TODON. Mf 



forms U'iiiu tem|M.niril\ disturU-d \\.-r.- quickly captured. The j>arty li:nl secured the services 

 of a fishing cie\\ and ih.-ir -ma. k Tin- latter had tin- ii-n.il "u.-ll." which ia used to keep 

 tin- "fan-" of fish alive uiihiu while waiting a market. Into tliis well tin- fishes, etc., were 

 placed. The sea water ]>la\ -ing in an<i oiu through the bottom was comparatively pore. After 

 nring maaj qpecimens of great valm-, as main as could safely ! U-stowed, the smack net 

 sail for the folder waters of tin- north. ll.-i.- in tin- Flori<la Straits tdt> sea is, even in winter, 

 wanin-r than that around the northern coast in summer. Some of tin- choicest specimens and 

 duplicates wen- judiciously placed in glass globes, and kept in tin- cabin. Tin- almoM im-\ ita- 

 l>le tiling happened the cold water killed everything In-fore tlit- party had reached Ilait.-ras. 

 Tin- sp.-cimenN in tlie glol>es were saved, and the "only Angel-iUh t \'-r inhibited in northern 

 u.,;. :-" was continual .1 loin; (inn ;i pleasin object to the man] rkfttOMOf MttaqMOfauB, 

 and a nearly sole consolation for the loss of the entire cargo of living tropical fishes. One of 

 the most beautiful of the objects saved was a peculiar form of Sea-Anemone, which we had 

 captive :M "iir own aquailn, and which we added to the Neil ^4 ork c-,,||,-,-ti,,n. Thi- |ji,-d ;l 

 long time, ami \\a- a constant source of admiration. It will be described in the proper place 

 at the end of this volume. 



Tin W \MIII:INI. (ii i loDos is an example of a very large genus, comprising about 

 seventy species, all of which are striking from their shape and color. Some of them are 

 almost circular or di.-c-like in the general contour of their figure, and the arrangement of the 

 markings is very conspicuous. The muzzle is moderate in length, ami the scales are rather 

 large in proportion to the dimensions of the body. 



The Wandering Cluetodon is a native of the waters extending from the Red Sea to 

 1'olyin-sia. and is one of the common fishes of the Ceylonese coasts. 



The colors of this fish are very l>eautiful, and are arranged after a very curious fa -h ion. 

 The ground color of the body is golden-yellow, on which a niimlier of purplish-brown lines are 

 drawn. Some which start from the upper edge of the gill-cover are drawn obliquely towards 

 the centre of the dorsal fin. and from the last of these lines a numlx-r of streaks is>ue nearly at 

 right angles, tak.- a slight sweep downwards, and then converge towards the tail. From the 

 u|i|>er part of the head a broad black band descends to the angle of the intero]>erculiim, and 

 envelops the eye in its progress. The dorsal fin has a narrow black edge, and a black band 

 extends along the soft portion of the same fin, crosses the tail, and is continued on the anal 

 tin. which has a black and white edge. Two l>old black bands are drawn across the tail. It 

 is not a large species, rarely exceeding one foot in length. 



A MOST remarkable species is called, from the form of its mouth, the BKAKKD 

 ChUBOMHT. 



The curiously elongated muzzle is employed by this lish in a rather unexpected manner, 

 being used as a gun or bow, a drop of water taking the place of the arrow or bullet. Perhaps 

 the closest analogy is with th>' celebrated "sumjiitan." or blow-gun, of the Macoushi Indians, 

 a tube through which an arrow is driven by the force of the breath. The Beaked Chtrtodon 

 feeds largely on tlie^ and other insects, but is not forced to depend, as is the case with nearly 

 every other fish, on the accidental fall of its prey into the water. If it sees a fly or other 

 insect resting on a twig or grass-blade that overliangs the water, the Chactodon approaches 

 \.-ry quietly, the greater part of its body submerged, and its nose just showing itself above 

 the surface, the point directed towards the victim. Suddenly, it shoots a drop of water at the 

 fly with such accuracy of aim, that the unsuspecting insect is knocked off its perch, and is 

 snapped up by the fish as soon as it touches the surface of the water. 



This habit it continues even in captivity, and is in consequence in great estimation aa 

 a houshold j-t by the Japanese. They keep the li-h in a large bowl of water, and amuse 

 themselves by holding towards it a fly upon the end of a slender rod, and seeing the finny 

 archer strike its prey into the water. Another fish, which will be described in the following 

 pages, possesses the same faculty, but is not so remarkable for its eccentric form and the bold 

 beauty of its tints. 



