44 THE HAUNTS OF LIFE 



some of its deep-sea relatives the bait or lure 

 is luminescent. Fishes are often attracted to 

 dangling objects, which doubtless pull the 

 trigger "Food." But whatever be the pre- 

 cise use of the fishing-rod there is no doubt 

 that the angler catches many fishes. 



The creature's head is extraordinarily broad, 

 and its gape is a terror. The angler seems 

 "All Mouth." A fatal gape it is, for the 

 sharp teeth along the jaws point backwards 

 and are hinged at their base, yielding at once 

 if we press them inwards, but rising in opposi- 

 tion if we draw our finger the other way. What 

 a simple trap, and yet so subtle! A broaden- 

 ing out of the jaws is not very remarkable ; but 

 add to that a fishing-rod and a loose-hinged 

 attachment of the backward-pointing sharp 

 teeth. If the incautious victim has begun to 

 explore what must seem to it just an interest- 

 ing opening below the dangling lure, there is 

 no return. In some cases the Fishing Frog 

 manages to submerge much of its clumsy body 

 in the sand. The dorsal fin-rays stand out in 

 all innocence; the bait dangles above the 

 mouth ; the victim indulges its scientific spirit 

 of investigation and then the trap snaps. 



The eggs of the angler are found floating in 



