Odd Fish 161 



jaws which form a spout and with these 

 he shoots a stream of water at insects 

 clinging to the waterside foliage. The 

 Malays keep the creature in bowls 

 covered with a bamboo lattice on which 

 insects are placed, and bet on the result 

 of the fish's marksmanship. The Madeira 

 puffer fish, which is able to blow itself 

 out with air until almost spherical in 

 shape, has also been known to shoot 

 water from its jaws. A pair of these 

 fish living in the Zoo Aquarium developed 

 this remarkable habit soon after their 

 arrival at Regent's Park, filling their 

 mouths with water and spitting the con- 

 tents at their keepers and those privileged 

 to be escorted " behind the scenes " of 

 the Aquarium. It is not the habit of 

 the marine puffer fish to secure its meals 

 in this manner, and there appears to be 

 no excuse for its rude if entertaining 

 behaviour. The skin in certain species 

 of puffer fish is armoured with spines 



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