206 ANGLER. 



of enabling it to ensnare little fishes. This Toadfish is aware 

 of the use it may make of these organs to obtain food, and, 

 for concealment, hides itself in some muddy place, where it 

 keeps its body unmoved, while it lifts up and stretches out 

 its line and bait. Little fishes that are wandering about are 

 soon attracted, and begin to nibble, which the Angler is quick 

 to perceive; and then it ])roceeds to move its line in a 

 cautious manner, so as to lead the prey, without alarming 

 them, into the gulph of its jaws, which close upon them 

 beyond the power of escape." 



The generally abrupt depth of water in our seas is a 

 hindrance to the observation of such actions as these, but 

 there does not appear to be any reason for doubting the 

 accuracy of this account; and, on the contrary, an examination 

 of other portions of the structure of this fish will tend to 

 point out an extension of these powers in other directions. 

 Thus, from the jaws round the border of the body to the 

 tail there is found a row of membranous or cutaneous lobes, 

 which, in most instances, at their extremities are divided into 

 club-shaped partitions. These arc not merely insensible doublings 

 of the skin, but, although in a less degree, they perform the 

 office commonly assigned to the fictitious bait suspended from 

 the fishing-rod on the top of the head. They offer themselves 

 enticingly to be nibbled by fishes that wander in that direction; 

 and then is brought into exercise an organization which dis- 

 tinguishes the structure of the pectoral and ventral fins. 



The species of this and the neighbouring family of Blennies 

 possess the power to change their place as they lie on the 

 ground, without an effort of the tail or dorsal fins; which 

 latter organs are the instruments of motion in the generality of 

 fishes, but which, if put into action by the Angler, would 

 excite alarm, and so drive away the prey. The pectoral fin 

 of this fish possesses such a framework of bones as is equivalent 

 to the wrist joint of a higher class of animals; and the ventral 

 also is so fitted with joints resting on a firm series of bones, 

 to which also the pectoral is attached; and the whole is so 

 well supplied with nerves of sensation, that, with a slow but 

 sure and consciously-directed motion, the fish is enabled to 

 creep in advance or retreat, or to turn itself round, and so 

 lay hold of such incautious rovers as have crowded round it. 



