STEANGE FISHES. 161 



without doubt given by some one who knew as little 

 about genus and species as a cow does about a watch- 

 pocket. This curious fish was beautifully shaped, with 

 all those perfections that characterize the salmon fam- 

 ily, but projecting from his head was a muscular con- 

 tinuation about sixteen inches long, and six broad in 

 the center, not unlike the blade of a canoe-})addle. 

 This spoonbill was entirely separated from and pro- 

 jecting over and independent of the mouth, the lower 

 jaw being in its ordihar}^ place ; nor was the mouth 

 large. As nature forms nothing without purpose, of 

 what use was this projection ? My own idea is that 

 it was a feeler, used in poking about through the 

 weeds, decayed vegetation, and mud : and by its sen- 

 sitiveness the fish was enabled to find his food. On 

 handling this ram jnscis, I found that the slightest 

 pressure on this attachment appeafed to produce in- 

 tense pain. The skin was entirely free from scales 

 from the tail to the termination of the projection, and 

 was very smooth and soft, not at all dissimilar to that 

 of an eel. For a trifle I secured the prize, as I was as- 

 sured he was an excellent table addition, and my in- 

 formants were perfectly correct. I afterward cut 

 up the proboscis to satisfy my curiosity, and found it 

 entirely composed of gristle, the surface underneath 



