ANGLER-FISHES OR FISHING-FROGS. 219 



of these be placed on a sandy bottom in clean water, it 

 is hard to believe that it is not merely a variegated piece 

 of seaweed. But it is when the fish is seen in its proper 

 haunts, that the beauty of its protective colouration is 

 apparent. Though I say "when it is seen" this can reallv 

 only be if the fish moves about. Let it remain stationary, 

 as is its habit; or, let the observer turn his eyes away for 

 a moment, and he will certainly not be able to locate ;t 

 again. There may be dozens at a time within actual visual 

 range of a person, and he will not be aware of it unless 

 they move fast and what is fast for them is very slow for 

 most other fishes. The usual mode of progression (when 

 that is necessary), is a kind of walking; the pectoral and 

 ventral fins particularly the latter being so wonderfully 

 modified, as to form a sort of legs. This fish is not at all 



Fig. 77. ANGLER-FISH (Antrnmii-in* immmifer.) 



adapted for swimming freely in the water like a Yellow- 

 tail, for instance nor does it attempt to; excepting when 

 it is necessary to travel from one weed-patch to another. 

 The tail is very small, and not at all powerful enough to 

 drive the fish along at any speed. 



The food of the Striped Angler-Fish consists prin- 

 cipally of active little Shrimps and Prawns though small 

 fishes are also occasionally taken. Now, to the average 

 reader, who is unfamiliar with the habits of this fish, it will 

 appear quite paradoxical, that such a sluggish fish should 

 be able to live upon such active crustaceans. But it can 

 be explained. If anyone examines the mouth of one of 

 these, he will find that the brown stripes of the head and 



