THE LONG-SPINED CHJETODON. 243 



The Wandering Cheetodon is a native of the waters extending from the Eed Sea to 

 Polynesia, and is one of the common fishes of the Ceylonese coasts. 



The colours of this fish are very beautiful, and are arranged after a very curious 

 fashion. The ground colour of the body is golden yellow, on which a number of 

 purplish brown lines are drawn in a manner that can readily be understood by reference 

 to the illustration. Those that start. from the upper edge of the gill-cover, are drawn 

 obliquely towards the centre of the dorsal fin, and from the last of these lines a number 

 of streaks issue nearly at right angles, take a slight sweep downwards and then converge 

 towards the tail. From the upper part of the head a broad black band descends to the 

 angle of the interoperculum, and envelops the eye in its progress. The dorsal fin has a 

 narrow black edge, and a black band extends along the soft portion of the same fin, 

 crosses the tail, and is continued on the anal fin, which has a black and white edge. Two 

 bold black bands are drawn across the tail. It is not a large species, rarely exceeding one 

 foot in length. 



THE second figure on the same engraving represents a most remarkable species, called, 

 from the form of its mouth, the BEAKED CH^TODON. 



The curiously elongated muzzle is employed by this fish in a rather unexpected 

 manner, being used as a gun or bow, a drop of water taking the place of the arrow or 

 bullet. Perhaps the closest analogy is with the celebrated " sumpitan," or blow-gun, of 

 the Macoushi Indians, a tube through which an arrow is driven by the force of the 

 breath. The Beaked Chsetodon feeds largely on flies and othei insects, but is not forced 

 to depend, as is the case with nearly every other fish, on the accidental fall of its prey 

 into the water. If it sees a fly or other insect resting on a twig or grass-blade that over- 

 hangs the water, the Chsetodon approaches very quietly, the greater part of its body 

 submerged, and its nose just showing itself above the surface, the point directed towards 

 the victim. Suddenly, it shoots a drop of water at the fly with such accuracy of aim, 

 that the unsuspecting insect is knocked off its perch, and is snapped up by the fish as 

 soon as it touches the surface of the water. 



This habit it continues even in captivity, and is in consequence in great estimation as 

 a household pet by the Japanese. They keep the fish in a large bowl of water, and 

 amuse themselves by holding towards it a fly upon the end of a slender rod, and seeing 

 the finny archer strike its prey into the water. Another fish, which will be figured and 

 described in the following pages, possesses the same faculty, but is not so remarkable for 

 its eccentric form and the bold beauty of its tints. 



The Beaked Chaetodon inhabits the Indian and Polynesian seas, and has been taken 

 off the west coast of Australia, where it is usually found in or near the mouths of rivers. 

 Over the head and body of this species are drawn five brownish cross-bands edged with 

 darker brown and white, and in the middle of the soft dorsal fin there is a rather large 

 circular black spot edged with white. 



Several other species of this genus are recognised, one of which, the LONG-BEAKED 

 CasETODON (Chelmo longirostris], is truly remarkable for the exceeding development of 

 the snout, which considerably exceeds half the length of the head. This species is also 

 notable for a large triangular patch of jetty black, which covers the upper surface of the 

 head, the neck, and the side of the head as far as the lower edge of the eye. There 

 is also a circular spot of the same hue on the anal fin. This species is a native of 

 Amboyna. 



THE very remarkable fish which is depicted on the accompanying illustration adds to 

 the singular shape of all the group the peculiarly elongated dorsal spine from which it 

 has received its name of LONG-SPINED CHAETODON, or CHAEIOTEEK. It also well exhibits 

 the scale-covered fins, a structure which is indicative of the large family to which it- 

 belongs. Both scientific names are of Greek origin, the former signifying a charioteer, 

 the long slender spine representing the whip ; and the latter signifies " single-horned," in 

 allusion to the same peculiarity. 



The fourth dorsal spine of this species is enormously elongated and whip -like ; its use 

 not being as yet ascertained or even conjectured with any show of reason. Over each eye 



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