556 



THE FISHING FKOG. 



Id some places along the seacoast the Gobies are known by the pop- 

 ular appellation of Bull-routs, and are rather feared on account of the 

 sharp bite which their strong jaws and pointed teeth can inflict upon the 

 bare hand. 



Another small family now comes before us, called the Batrachidse, 

 or Frog-fishes, from the froggish aspect of the body, and especially of 

 the head. 



The Fishing Frog, Angler-fish, or Wide Gab is not unfrequent 

 on the British coasts, and has long been famous for the habit from 

 which it has derived its popular name. 



The first dorsal fin is almost wholly wanting, its place being occu- 

 pied merely by three spines, movable by means of certain muscles. The 



manner in which 



' " these spines " are 



connected with 

 the body is truly 

 marvellous. The 

 first, which is fur- 

 nished at its tip 

 with a loose shi- 

 ning slip of mem- 

 brane, is develop- 

 ed at its base into 

 a ring, through 

 which passes a sta- 

 ple of bone that 

 proceeds from the 

 head. The read- 

 er may obtain a 

 very perfect idea 

 of this beautiful 

 piece of mechan- 

 ism by taking a 

 common iron 



skewer, slipping a staple through its ring, and driving the staple into a 

 board. It will then be seen that the skewer is capable of free motion 

 in every direction. The second spine is arranged after a somewhat' 

 similar fashion, but is capable of being moved only backward and 

 fi>rward. The use of these spines is no less remarkable than their 

 form. 



The Fishing Frog is not a rapid swimmer, and would have but little 

 success if it were to chase the swift and active fishes on which it feeds. 

 It therefore buries itself in the muddy sand, and continually waves 

 the long filaments with their glittering tips. The neighboring fish, 



The Fishing Frog {Lophius piscatorius). 



