546 



THE BEAKED CH^TODON. 



ing the place of the arrow or bullet. Perhaps the closest analogy is 

 with the celebrated "sumpitan," or blow-gun, of the Macoushi Indians, 

 a tube through which an arrow is driven by the force of the breath. 

 The Beaked Ch?etodou feeds largely on flies and other insects, but is 

 not forced to depend, as is the case with nearly every other fish, on the 

 accidental fall of its prey into the water. If it sees a fly or other in- 

 sect resting on a twig or grass-blade that overhangs the water, the 

 Chietodon approaches very quietly, the greater part of its body sub- 

 merged, and its nose just showing itself above the surface, the point 

 directed toward the victim. Suddenly it shoots a drop of water at the 

 fly with such accuracy of aim that the unsuspecting insect is knocked 



The Beaked Ch^todon {Chebm rostratus). 



off" its perch, and is snapped up by the fish as soon as it touches the sur- 

 face of the water. 



This habit it continues even in captivity, and is in consequence in 

 great estimation as a household pet by the Japanese. They keep the 

 fish in a large bowl of water, and amuse themselves by holding toward 

 It a fly upon the end of a slender rod, and seeing the finny archer strike 

 its prey into the water. Another fish, called the "Archer,"' inhabiting 

 the East Indian and Polynesian seas, possesses the same facultv, but is 

 not so remarkable for its eccentric form and the bold beauty of Us tints. 



The Beaked Ch?etodon inhabits the Indian and Polynesian seas, and 

 has been taken off" the west coast of Australia, where it is usually found 

 in or near the mouths of rivers. Over the head and body of this species 

 are drawn five brownish cross-bands edged with darker brown and white, 

 and m the middle of the soft dorsal fin there is a rather large circular 

 black spot edged with white. 



