NATURALISTS CABINET. 



Remarkable mode of taking its prey. 



of taking its prey is very remarkable. When it 

 sees a fly at a distance alighted on any of the 

 plants in the shallow water, it approaches very 

 slowly, and with the utmost caution, coming as 

 much as possible perpendicularly under the ob- 

 ject ; then putting its body in an oblique direc- 

 tion, with the mouth and eyes near the surface, 

 remains a moment immovable. Having fixed 

 its eyes directly on the insect, it shoots at it a 

 drop of water from its tubular snout, but with- 

 out showing its mouth above the surface, from 

 whence only the drop seems to rise. This is 

 done with so much dexterity, that, though at the 

 distance of four, five, or six feet, it very seldom 

 fails to bring the fly into the water. With the 

 closest attention the mouth could never be dis- 

 covered above the surface, although the fish has 

 been seen to eject several drops, one after an- 

 other without leaving the place, or in the smallest 

 apparent degree moving its body. 



M. Hommel, the governor of the hospital at 

 Batavia, near which place this species is some- 

 times found, was determined, if possible, to con- 

 vince himself of the truth of this singular action 

 by ocular demonstration. For this purpose he 

 ordered a large wide tub to be filled with sea 

 water ; he then had some of these fish caught 

 and put into it, and the water was changed every 

 other day. After a while they seemed reconciled 

 to their confinement, and he then tried the ex- 

 periment. A slender stick, with a fly fastenedat 



