44 THE HAUNTS OF LIFE 



some of its deep-sea relatives the bait or 

 lure is luminescent. Fishes are often attracted 

 to dangling objects, which doubtless pull the 

 trigger "Food." But whatever be the precise 

 use of the fishing-rod there is no doubt that 

 the angler catches many fishes. 



The creature's head is extraordinarily broad, 

 and its gape is a terror. The angler seems 

 " All Mouth." A fatal gape it is, for the sharp 

 teeth along the jaws point backwards and are 

 hinged at their base, yielding at once if we 

 press them inwards, but rising in opposition if 

 we draw our finger the other way. What a 

 simple trap, and yet so subtle ! A broadening 

 out of the jaws is not very remarkable ; but 

 add to that a fishing-rod and a loose-hinged 

 attachment of the backward-pointing sharp 

 teeth. If the incautious victim has begun to 

 explore what must seem to it just an interest- 

 ing opening below the dangling lure, there is 

 no return. In some cases the Fishing Frog 

 manages to submerge much of its clumsy 

 body in the sand. The dorsal fin-rays stand 

 out in all innocence ; the bait dangles above 

 the mouth ; the victim indulges its scientific 

 spirit of investigation and then the trap snaps. 



The eggs of the angler are found floating 



