THE ATLANTIC OCEAN. 173 



uses these members actually as feet, crawling and 

 pushing its way among the tangled weeds by means 

 of them. It has even been known to come on shore, 

 and remain several days without any communica- 

 tion with the water. On the head of this fish there 

 are one or two slender horns, furnished at the tip 

 with several processes resembling little worms. Tlie 

 use of these organs is very remarkable. The fish is 

 not one of swift motion, and therefore cannot take 

 its prey by pursuit : instead of this, it usually con- 

 ceals itself among the mud at the bottom, or perhaps 

 among the stalks of floating weed, while it agitates 

 its curious fleshy horns ; their resemblance to worms 

 and their motion attract other fishes, which, coming 

 within reach, are seized by the capacious mouth 

 of the latent Toad-fish. The lower jaw extending 

 beyond the upper, causes the mouth to open perpen- 

 dicularly, and the eyes are so situated as to look 

 in the same direction, both of which arrangements 

 facilitate the capture of prey by this singular mode. 

 It is not improbable that the worm-like tentacles 

 attached to the mouth and chin of other fishes, as 

 the Cod and Barbel, for example, answer an end 

 somewhat similar to this. 



In keeping small marine animals for examination, 

 we often lose the specimens through the water 

 becoming speedily unfit for supporting animal life ; 

 a minute Shrimp or two, or a fish of an inch in 

 length, if confined in a large basin of water, will 

 usually exhaust the oxygen dunng the night, and 

 be dead by the morning. A little living seaweed, 

 however, placed with them, will prevent, or, at least, 



