342 THE OCEAIT. 



take momentary flights above the surface ; and the 

 pretty tribe of Ghcetodons, several of which are noted 

 for the singular habit of shooting flies with a drop of 

 water projected from their beak-like mouths, fear- 

 lessly approach the hand immersed in the water. 

 But none of these are more curious than the Toad- 

 fiahes, or Anglers {Antemiarius), whose pectoral and 

 ventral flns have much of the form and also the 

 functions of the feet of a quadruped, enabling them 

 to crawl out of the water, and travel over the land. 

 The head is armed with horn-like projections, termi- 

 nating 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 exercised 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 provision 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 ti'acts 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 

 fins. On the approach of an enemy, they buried 

 themselves in the mud with inconceivable rapidity 



