STEANGE FISH. 381 



piece of water; still, I knew it was well stocked with fish, 

 for on a previous evening, as T stood on its margin as the 

 sun went down, waiting for wild duck, I had seen the 

 surface in portions broken into spray with the fishes' 

 numerous pastimes, or energetic pursuit of their prey. 

 With curiosity I stopped to see the result of the first 

 haul, and well was my patience rewarded, for what food for 

 study was in the result ! First and foremost, from the size 

 and peculiarity of formation, I will mention what the 

 fisherman designated a " spoonbill catfish " a name 

 without doubt given by some one who knew as little 

 about genus and species as a cow does about a watch- 

 pocket. This curious fiah was beautifully shaped, with all 

 those perfections that characterise the salmon family; but 

 projecting from his head was a muscular continuation about 

 sixteen inches long and six broad in the centre, not unlike 

 the blade of a canoe-paddle. This spoon-bill was entirely 

 separated from and projecting over and independent of the 

 mouth, the lower jaw being in its ordinary place ; nor 

 was the mouth large. As nature forms nothing without 

 purpose, of what use was this projection ? My own idea 

 is that it was a feeler, used in poking about through the 

 weeds, decayed vegetation, and mud : and by its sensitive- 

 ness the fish was enabled to find his food. On handling 

 this rara piscis, I found that the slightest pressure 

 on this attachment appeared to produce intense pain. 

 The skin was entirely free from scales from the tail to the 

 termination of the projection, and was very smooth and 

 soft, not at all dissimilar to that of an eel. For a trifle I 

 secured the prize, as I was assured he was an excellent 



