TOAD-FISH. Batrachus gritnniens. 



FISHING-FROG. Ldphius piscatdrius. 



ANOTHER small family now comes before us, called the Batrachidse, or Frog-fishes, 

 from the froggish aspect of the body and especially of the head. 



The TOAD-FISH is a very curious-looking creature, with its flattened and wide head, 

 gaping mouth, and spacious gill-cover. All the members of this genus are carnivorous 

 fishes, and are spread through the coasts of the tropical regions, where they are mostly 

 found on the bottom and partially buried in the sand or mud in hope of surprising 

 the active prey on which they feed. Some species, however, are found even in the 

 temperate seas. 



The Toad-fish inhabits the East Indian seas, and has been taken at the mouth of the 

 Ganges. Its colour is brown marked with a much darker tint, and the fins are streaked 

 and blotched with similar colours. The body is without scales. 



The FISHING-FROG, ANGLER-FISH, or WIDE-GAB, is not unfrequent on the British 

 coasts, and has long been famous for the habit from which it has derived its popular 

 name. 



The first dorsal fin is almost wholly wanting, its place being occupied merely by three 

 spines, movable by means of certain muscles. The manner in which these spines are 

 connected with the body is truly marvellous. The first, which is furnished at its tip with 

 a loose shining slip of membrane, is developed at its base into a ring, through which passes 

 a staple of bone that proceeds from the head. The reader may obtain a very perfect idea 

 of this beautiful piece of mechanism by taking a common iron skewer, slipping a staple 

 through its ring and driving the staple into a board. It will be then seen that the 

 skewer is capable of free motior. in every direction. 



