THE ANGLER, OR FISHING-FROG. 87 



its prey in ambush. It reposes on the soft 

 mud or sand, in some favourable lurking-place, 

 and, stirring up the mud with its pectoral fins, 

 thus obscures itself in a murky cloud, beyond 

 which appear its long filaments, and especially 

 the first, with its glittering tip, offering an 

 attractive bait to other fish. Thus stationed, 

 quietly the angler expects his victim. On rove 

 the shoals of fish, eager in quest of food ; they 

 pass one after another in succession, till at 

 length one espies the bait ; forward the fish 

 darts, either to examine or seize the anticipated 

 prize, but at that instant, aided by the broad 

 feet-like pectoral fins, up springs the watchful 

 angler, and seizes his unwary victim. Such is 

 the success of this voracious tyrant, that the 

 fishermen, who often capture it in their nets, 

 examine its stomach, and sometimes obtain 

 from it a considerable number of serviceable 

 fish, yet alive, which it had just engulphed ; 

 nay, even when inclosed in the net, it continues 

 to the last to devour its fellow-prisoners. It is 

 not, however, always that the angler thus ob- 

 tains his food ; he is sometimes seen floating on 

 the surface, ready to snap at whatever prey 

 comes within his sudden dart. Sometimes this 

 fish is taken by means of a baited hook in 

 mid- water ; but it is most usually captured by 



