360 THE OCEAN. 



form and delicate pencillings the wings of a butter- 

 fly, take momentary flights above the surface; and 

 the petty tribe of Chcetodons, several of which are 

 noted for the singular habit of shooting flies with 

 a drop of water projected from their beak-like 

 mouths, fearlessly approach the hand immersed in 

 the water. But none of these are more curious than 

 the Toad-fishes, or Anglers (Antennarius), whose 

 pectoral and ventral fins have much of the form and 

 also the functions of the feet of a quadruped, en- 

 abling them to crawl out of the water, and travel 

 over the land. The head is armed with horn-like 

 projections, terminating in shining filaments, which 

 play freely in the water, and attract small fishes 

 within the reach of its enormous mouth ; a very 

 remarkable instance of the superintending care exer- 

 cised by the beneficent Creator over the well-being of 

 his creatures. The form of the fish is clumsy, and 

 its motions slow and heavy, and without this provi- 

 sion for the attraction of its prey, it would probably 

 fare but poorly. 



It is doubtless a species of Antennarius that is 

 thus described by Mr. Earl, as observed on the coast 

 of Borneo : " Large tracts of mud had been left 

 uncovered by the receding tide, and flocks of gulls 

 and other birds were feeding on the worms and small 

 fish. Vast numbers of little amphibious creatures 

 were running about in the mud, and they appeared 

 to be sought after by some of the larger birds. 

 They were from two to eight inches long, resem- 

 bling a fish in shape, of a light-brown colour, and 

 could run and jump by means of two strong pectoral 



