FISHING FROG. 



269 



ACANTItOPTERYGIL 



PECTORAL FINS FEET-LIKE. 



THE FISHING FROG. ANGLER. 



SEA DEVIL. WIDE GAB. Scotland. 



Lophius piscatoriiis, LINN^US. BLOCH, pt. iii. pi. 87. 



,, ,, CUVIEU, Regne An. t. ii. p. 251. 



,, ,, Common Angler, PENN. Brit. Zool. vol. iii. p. 159, pi. 21. 



,, ,, ,, DON. Brit. Fish. pi. 101. 



,, ,, Angler, FLEM. Brit. An. p. 214, sp. 147. 



Generic Characters. Head very large, depressed ; body slender, smooth, 

 without scales : two dorsal fins separated ; pectoral fins broad and thick, some- 

 what resembling feet ; ventral fins small, placed considerably before the pec- 

 torals : teeth differing in size, numerous, conical, sharp, curving backwards ; 

 tongue broad ; branchial cavities large, with only a small opening behind the 

 pectoral fins ; branchiostegous rays 6. 



THE ANGLER, as this fish is called for reasons that 

 will be given hereafter, belongs to a small and singular 

 group of fishes, which Cuvier has designated Perforates 

 Pediculees, from the peculiar conformation of the pectoral 

 fins, by which some of the species can creep on land almost 

 like little quadrupeds. The ventral fins, palmate in form, 

 are placed very far forward on the body ; and the pectorals, 

 from their position, perform the office of hinder feet. Some 



