218 FISHES OF AUSTRALIA. 



Herrings" was derived from the idea that it accompanied 

 shoals of Herrings. 



Dead or dying Ribbon-Fishes lying or swimming at the 

 surface of the ocean, have, no doubt in some cases, been 

 responsible for tales of sea-serpents. It is the Oar-Fish 

 which has been known to reach a length of 20 feet. 



ANGLER-FISHES OR FISHING-FROGS. 



(Family: Antennariidce.) 



AMONGST the curious and remarkable beings that inhabit 

 our waters, certainly not the least curious are the little 

 Angler-Fishes, which are also known under various other 

 names, such as "Fishing-Frogs" and "Walking -Fishes." 

 There are quite a number of species of these in Australian 

 waters, and they all have the same general habit of luring 

 their prey to them by means of a contrivance on the top 

 of the head, which acts as a fishing-rod and bait, so that 

 here we have the artful human angler in piscine form. One 

 of the species is jet black and has a crimson mouth. It 

 lives in fairly-deep water, generally on a dark muddy 

 bottom. 



Without going into detail in regard to the various 

 species, I will content myself with describing one of the 

 most familiar examples the little Striped Angler-Fish 

 (Antennarius striatus}. This is to be found living amongst 

 the weed on the bottom in shallow and rather sandy parts, 

 and is one of the quaintest-looking fishes imaginable. Its 

 short, plump body, which, out of the water, feels very flabby 

 to the touch, is covered with a rough, sand-papery, scale- 

 less skin, the ground colour of which, is a light brown or 

 a fawn colour; having all over it, running in all direc- 

 tions, dark-brown stripes of varying width and shape. The 

 great contrast of these colours, would lead the observer, 

 upon first viewing it, to think that the fish must be a very 

 conspicuous object in the water, but such is certainly not 

 the case, as anyone may prove for himself. Even if one 



