ROSTRATED CH.KTODON. 



next across the body, and the last across the base 

 of the tail : the dorsal and anal fin are very broad 

 at the hind part, and the dorsal is marked in that 

 part by a large black spot, bordered with white : 

 the gill-covers are scaly, but destitute of spines. 



This fish is a native of the fresh waters of India, 

 and is celebrated for the extraordinary manner in 

 which it takes its prey, which chiefly consists of the 

 smaller kind of flying insects : when, it observes 

 one of these, either hovering over the water, of 

 seated on some aquatic plant, it shoots against it 

 from its tubular snout a drop of water, with so sure 

 an aim as generally to lay it dead, or at least stu- 

 pified, on the surface. In shooting at a sitting in- 

 sect, it is commonly observed to approach within 

 the distance of from six to four feet, before it ex- 

 plodes the water. When kept in a state of con- 

 finement in a large vessel of water, it is said to 

 afford high entertainment by its dexterity in this 

 exercise, since if a fly or other insect be fastened 

 to the edge of the vessel, the fish immediately per- 

 ceives it, and continues to shoot at it with such ad- 

 mirable skill as very rarely to miss the mark 



It may not be improper to observe, that this 

 faculty is not entirely confined to the present fish, 

 but takes place in some few others belonging ta 

 Very different genera, 



